"He gave me a lesson in democracy and said: 'We see the democracy the
United States spearheaded in Iran and with Hamas, in Gaza, and that's the
fate of the Middle East.'"
The United States, determined to maintain influence and
a strategic partnership, has offered additional aid to a post-Mubarak Egypt.
Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama would draft
proposals to help Egypt after the resignation of President Hosni
Mubarak. They said the assistance would focus on economy and
institution-building.
"The United States will continue to be a friend and partner to Egypt,"
Obama said on Feb. 11. "We stand ready to provide whatever assistance is
necessary — and asked for — to pursue a credible transition to a
democracy."
Egypt has received about $1.5 billion in annual aid from the United
States, Middle East Newsline reported. All but $200 million has been U.S. military aid, which helps support
the largest military in the Arab world.
Officials said both the Defense Department and State Department have
urged increased aid to Egypt to help encourage the continuation of its
alliance with the United States. They said the biggest short-term threat was
that Egypt would impose restrictions on the U.S. Navy's use of the Suez
Canal.
"The [Egyptian] military has served patriotically and responsibly as a
caretaker to the state, and will now have to ensure a transition that is
credible in the eyes of the Egyptian people," Obama said. "That means
protecting the rights of Egypt's citizens, lifting the emergency law,
revising the constitution and other laws to make this change irreversible,
and laying out a clear path to elections that are fair and free."
But U.S. analysts expressed concern of an Arab backlash in wake of the
Obama campaign for Mubarak to resign. They said pro-U.S. Arab leaders would
be cautious and even resentful in maintaining a high-profile alliance with
Washington.
"Hosni Mubarak's efforts to leave with honor failed," Judith Apter
Klinghoffer, a professor who has taught in China, Denmark, Israel and the
United States, said. "Arab leaders will never forget nor I suspect forgive."
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