Peninsula Daily News news sources
Open rebellion has broken out in Egypt. Tens of thousands of protesters are filling the streets of Cairo and other major cities in that country.
President Barack Obama on Friday criticized Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for his dealing with the protests. He urged Mubarak not to use violent methods to quell the protests and to turn Internet access in that country back on.
The U.S. is in a difficult position with Egypt.
The U.S. in the past has pressed Mubarak for social, political and economic reforms, but the decades-long leader has made few such changes.
At the same time, Egypt is one of the U.S.’s biggest allies in the Middle East. Its recognition of Israel is essential to peace in the region.
Egypt also controls the Suez Canal, which gives U.S. warships easy access to the Red Sea. Egypt also has allowed the U.S. to use its airspace for military operations.
With its pro-Western stance, Egypt also has been a stalwart in combating Islamic radicals in the region. In return, the U.S. sends Egypt more than $1 billion a year in economic support.
But as the protests continue, some in Washington, D.C., are questioning how much longer the U.S. can support Mubarak.
