"...A year and a half ago, an Israel Navy submarine crossed the Suez Canal on its way from Haifa to the Red Sea, where it conducted an exercise, and back. The unusual voyage reflected the growing strategic cooperation between Israel and Egypt, which aimed a menacing message at Iran. The submarine's crossing of the waterway demonstrated how quickly Israel could deploy its deterrent near Iran's shores, with the tacit support of Egypt.
Once more, the canal is being used to deliver a message of deterrence - but this time the direction is reversed. Egypt is allowing Iranian warships to cross the canal, on their way to Syrian ports. Israel was publicly critical of the passage - arguing that it is a provocative move - but Egypt ignored the pressures and granted the Iranian navy permission to pass, symbolizing the change to the regional balance of power following the fall of President Hosni Mubarak. ..."
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Egypt is no longer committed to an alliance with Israel against Iran... (well, Duh!)
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2 comments:
I think one of the greater observations that we have to keep in mind in regards to the events in Egypt is that whatever happens, the result will not be an isolated event within the country. Instead, precedents (as explained here: http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=RIK3MJA1P6U7&preview=article&linkid=d5d8c2a4-7ecd-4a0d-b521-97a7f1d5b402&pdaffid=ZVFwBG5jk4Kvl9OaBJc5%2bg%3d%3d) seem to indicate a very strong impact within the Middle East in general.
Well I hope this little bit is something to also keep in mind.
It means nothing, we are talking about two ships, hardly an aggressive maneuver. American naval forces in the area make the two ships irrelevant. Symbolic it is, importance in the Great Game is none at all.
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