Any idea of a positive outcome from the so-called “Arab Spring” is all but gone. News reports confirm most that the Islamists will be the wielders of power in Egypt, Tunisia and possibly Libya and their agendas are what I warned it would be – radical Islam.
The Muslim Brotherhood and Salaf Nour Party are the big winners in Egypt. Guided by the Saudi-inspired school of thought, Salafist, Islamic hard lineer will not be friendly to the U.S. or Israel. Salafi groups in Egypt speak openly about their plans in Egypt where personal freedoms, free speech and women rights will be subject to sharia law.
Robert Haddick, writing in the Small Wars Journal, 13 Jan 2012, “This week at War: Playing Risks,” markes the most important fall out:
“… the Arab Spring has created collateral damage to U.S. relations with key Gulf countries. Leaders in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere were not pleased with the Obama administration’s abandonment of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. U.S. policymakers seem to make a clear distinction between external threats to the Sunni Arab countries, to which the United States has pledged to respond, and internal threats, which the United States sees as each country’s responsibility. The Sunni monarchies, fearing Iran’s covert and irregular-warfare capabilities, do not so neatly see the distinction between Iranian-sponsored external and internal threats. …having lost some confidence in U.S. reliability, are now looking east to India and China to diversify their security relationships.”
The Administration inexperience in international relations and military affairs are hurting U.S. positions around the world. The Arab Spring has sprung a trap on U.S. forein policy.
