Egyptian-American Relations

There are many important stories and scenarios playing out in the world and since it's Monday, let's look at one of them that we'll be hearing more about this week. Egyptian President Morsi gave an interview last weekend to the New York Times. In it, Morsi said that Egypt policy will be more independent of the United States in the future and hopes that America will not expect Egypt to "live by its rules." This could be a worrying position that sounds like an Islamist anti-American manifesto, or it ciyld be the basis for a more balanced relationship that will make Egypt a more valuable partner for the US in the Middle East. Morsi did not mince words about America's loss of reputation in the region. He criticized the positions taken by the US in the Arab world, saying "it is not possible to judge Egyptian behavior and decision-making by American cultural standards." Like most Islamists, Morsi says Washington has earned ill will in the region by supporting dictators and taking "a very clear" biased approach against the Palestinians and for Israel. while Americans will argue with this opinion, it is easier to agree with Morsi's taking on the al-Assad regime's merciless attack on its own citizens, not just for the Times but in Teheran where the Iranian president was in the same room presiding over a conference attempting to take over the Syrian question from the UN. He strongly criticized the Syria regime for violently repressing the people of Syria. Recently, when President Obama was asked about Egypt, he said he does not consider it an ally or an enemy. Perhaps with more political aplomb, Morsi, when asked about Obama's comment, said that one would have to define "ally" and then added that he hopes to have a real relationship with America. I know, dear readers, that I am siding with a minority in America when I suggest that the US ought to be doing absolutely everything it can honorably do to cultivate a "real relationship" with President Morsi and the new Egypt. Being involved may give America the chance to re-create its image in the Middle East and to show that it is not a "dictator for democracy" but a leader that can adapt its principles, without compromising them, to Muslim culture and people struggling to undertstand what self-government is and how to create it.