Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — U.S. policy over Egypt remains a source of deep division, a report said.

Congress has determined that the administration of President Barack Obama as well as the House and Senate have not moved toward an agreement over how to treat Egypt. A report by the Congressional Research Service asserted that this has hampered U.S. cooperation with Cairo in the war against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.

“Overall U.S. policy toward Egypt is deeply divided between those who want Egypt to ease its domestic crackdown against non-violent Islamists and secular democracy activists before relations can improve and those who believe the United States should take the lead in advancing bilateral security cooperation without tying it to Egyptian domestic politics,” the report, titled “The Islamic State in Egypt: Implications for U.S.-Egyptian Relations,” said.

Researcher Jeremy Sharp, a specialist on the Middle East, said Egypt has been dismayed by the U.S. suspension of major combat platforms, including the F-16 multi-role fighter and the M1A1 main battle tank. Sharp said Cairo, despite a growing insurgency presence, has refrained from joining the U.S.-led military coalition against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

“To date, Egypt’s contribution has been mainly political rather than military,” the report, dated Dec. 18, said. “Beyond claims of limited capabilities, diplomatic considerations also may be dampening Egypt’s willingness to contribute. The military has complained about the Obama administration’s October 2013 decision to suspend certain weapons systems, and President Sisi stated in a television interview that Egypt would be more forthcoming if ‘you give us the Apaches and F-16s that you have been suspending for over a year and a half now.'”

The report urged the administration and Congress to overcome the “mistrust” in relations with Egypt that would enable a war against ISIL in the Sinai Peninsula. But Sharp did not express optimism over the prospect of genuine CI cooperation between Cairo and Washington.

“Despite the persistent terrorism problem in Egypt, there is little momentum to jumpstart bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation,” the report said. “In addition to the reservations noted above, the United States may be prioritizing more imminent terrorist threats elsewhere in the region.”

  Deep divide over Egypt in U.S. government said hampering war on ISIL, WorldTribune.com