Egypt’s push for peace with Iran dismissed by smug, pro-Trump think-tank

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)—a leading US think-tank and pro-Trump war mouthpiece—has been throwing shade on Egypt’s latest mediation efforts. These efforts are aiming to broker peace between Washington and Tehran.

The drive for peace by Egypt and regional allies

On the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, Egyptian officials discussed with counterparts from Turkey and Pakistan, lasting solutions to end Trump’s war against Iran. Meanwhile, the think-tank suggests Egyptian mediation counteracts its self-projected image as an “antidote to political Islam.” Explaining the institute’s position, FDD research analyst Mariam Wahba underlined what she described as:

Cairo’s ideological flimsiness and chronic susceptibility to Islamist orbits.

Wahba argues that despite Cairo’s ‘deep backchannels’ with Washington and Tehran — dating back to Camp David — it’s alleged susceptibility towards Islamist actors (who she does not name) casts into doubt the durability of Egyptian president Sisi’s posture. Furthermore, the true fear, it seems, is the emergence of a unified front in the Middle East. This front may be capable of standing firm against US imperialism.

TRT reported that the forum was Turkey’s latest diplomatic initiative to explore viable off ramps to end the US-Israel war on Iran — with Egypt assuming a central role.

FDD, along with the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), the Hudson Institute, and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), are leading backers of Trump’s unlawful war on Iran. As per their coverage, they have also been relentlessly pro-Israel as documented by Responsible Statecraft at the Quincy Institute.

Manufacturing consent in defence of Israel

FDD, best known for its steely criticism of armed resistance factions and Islamist groups in the Arab world, has been levelling the same criticism at Turkey.

FDD senior fellow, Sinan Ciddi, recently wrote that Erdoğan “lives comfortably in a world of contradictions,” condemning Israel while collecting transit fees on Azerbaijani oil that fuels Israeli F-35s.

Commenting of Erdogan’s posturing, Ciddi contends that:

Erdoğan has a duplicitous relationship with NATO—the same as he does with Israel. Turkey enables the Russian war machine. Erdoğan likes having his feet in both camps, which is an issue for the allies. It is all deeply hypocritical and contradictory, but he needs the trade and profits.

In a similar vein, the FDD has criticised Saudi Arabia. FDD’s Hussain Abdul-Hussain — author of the ‘Arab Case for Israel‘ — wrote in the Jewish Chronicle that Saudi Arabia is “turning back to Islamism — and against Israel” to deflect from domestic economic troubles.

The beginning of the end

These DC think tanks are balking at the prospect of diplomatic unity among Muslim nations. This reflects a fear of losing US hegemony. Its preservation, however, depends on the presence of Israel as a destabilising force in the region. Should they hold, such alliance building may mark the beginning of the end for America’s crumbling imperial architecture in the Middle East.

On the media front in Israel, there have been consistent efforts at manufacturing consent for a ‘pre-emptive strike’ on Egypt. These efforts are rife since Trump attacked Iran. The same can be said for Turkey.

This has also been highlighted by Professor Nicholas Taleb. He recently shared a post by an Israeli commentator highlighting how the campaign for manufacturing consent against Turkey as an “existential threat” was taking place.

The campaign is already underway. Politicians and diplomats in Pakistan, Turkey, and not least, Egypt, would be wise to recognise it for what it is.

Featured image via Egyptian State Information Service

By The Canary

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