Egypt land of the pyramids

There's more than meets the eye with Egypt and more lies here than could fill a stadium. While our main stream western media played up the arab spring making its' way across the desert sands other forces were at work setting up for another economic shift of wealth. Step back and look at the over all picture. For over 30 years we have used Egypt as our guardian of stability in that region. For those who don't know the Egyptian army is run like a corporation with each person working outside their military position at a job. But unlike our reserves our national guards of the U.S. who only have to serve for short periods the companies they work for are part of the military. An odd mix if you ask me or more pointedly a source of cheap labor. Egypt's army is the largest in the region.

The army had been up until recently a secular force. It wasn't until Morsi took power that members of the Muslim Brotherhood started enlisting in large numbers. The top generals fearing a shift to a more religious force ( and I expect Washington had the same fears) we can be sure had some input into the current situation. We need to remember too that Egypt was one of the rendition stops for those captured in Iraq and Afghanistan. A shift towards muslim brotherhood would have meant a severing of that intelligence. So while the main stream media plays up the democracy angle with flag waving and fireworks the real issues are being played out behind the scenes with the Egyptian army. I suspect they played a very important part in organizing the street scenes we've seen in the last few days. You don't get a couple of million people on the streets any other way. And they have after all taken Morsi into custody "for his own protection" or so they say.

Once again the U.S. is playing the game of trying to install another dictator as this one went rogue on them. Look no farther than the others we've installed over the last 50 years with the Shah in Iran and Saddam in Iraq. They didn't get in power by popular vote by any means. Where's the money to be made in all this one might ask? First off it creates a sense of fear in the markets as you note that oil just shot over $100 a barrel. Then there is the delicate balance of military aide and more weapons sales to consider to the tune of 1.3 billion dollars. You note that Obama didn't call this a coup because to do so would halt any aide money sent. But then again I hear there's always ways to get around such road blocks. Honestly RPGs and tanks for humanitarian purposes?