WikiLeaks: Mubarak lets Egyptians suffer to avoid 'chaos'

[harun]

Source: msnbc.com staff and news service reports

The "confidential" cable, dated February 2010 and sent by Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron, discussed Egypt's role in Mideast peace process.

Al-Thani is said to have claimed Egypt had a vested interest in dragging out the talks for as long as possible as their role as a broker was its "only business interest with the U.S."

The cable said Al-Thani told Kerry that Qatar was worried about "Egypt and its people, who are increasingly impatient."

"Mubarak, continued HBJ (Qatar Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani), says (Qatar-based) Al Jazeera is the source of Egypt's problems. This is an excuse. HBJ had told Mubarak 'we would stop Al Jazeera for a year' if he agreed in that span of time to deliver a lasting settlement for the Palestinians. Mubarak said nothing in response, according to HBJ," the cable added.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41308122/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

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This lends truth to what many have suspected. Egypt getting > 2 billion in US aid a year, wants to keep that aid coming instead of a big push for resolution of the Palestinian issue. While not stated in this piece I would suspect the same could be said for Israel. The only nation to get more US aid than Egypt.

[newfie11]

1. No doubt America had a hand in creating this problem n/t

[harun]

2. I am really glad Obama went to Egypt and gave the speech he did.

However, after the last "elections" there, Obama and/or HRC should have pressed Egypt about rampant corruption and oppression, withholding aid if necessary to get results.