Tuesday, February 8, 2011

What to do about Egypt

I have been following the events in Egypt for the past two weeks just like many of you all have and people have been asking "what should we do about Egypt? Should we intervene?" I think it is safe to say that Mubarak has passed the point of no return and is on the way out. The question is who or what will take his place? Would it be another Arab strongman who may either be loyal or allied against the US? Would it be an Islamist regime that will ally itself with Iran against the US? Or would it become a true democratic republic with free elections and multiple parties?

At the time of this entry, I can't tell you what or who will take Mubarak's place. However, in the event that an Islamist regime or an anti-American Arab strongman takes power, I know what we must do. We must secure the Suez Canal and we must defend Israel against Egypt.

I propose assembling a multi-national coalition of combat divisions from NATO, the US, and other countries that will descend on the Suez Canal zone and secure it. This force will not only defend the canal from the Egyptian army but also create a firewall between Egypt and Israel. The canal will still belong to Egypt but because of the international strategic importance of the Suez Canal, Egypt will have to accept a permament multi-national military presence in the Suez Canal Zone.

If Egyptian forces engage the multi-national force in hostilities, then the multi-national force will advance to Cairo and forcibly remove the regime that authorized the attack on the canal. The multi-national force will occupy the country and new elections will be held to guarantee a democratic republic and security of the Suez Canal.

I hope it doesn't come to this. I rather see Egypt become a democratic republic on its own or at least have a strongman allied to the US rise to power. But we must secure the canal regardless of whomever rises to power in the post-Mubarak era.