MoA - Kerrry Being Shown The Finger

June 23, 2014

Kerrry Being Shown The Finger

Kerry Says U.S. Is Ready to Renew Ties With Egypt

After a 90-minute meeting with Mr. Sisi, Mr. Kerry said at a news conference here that he had come to reaffirm Washington’s “historic partnership” with Egypt.
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Mr. Kerry expressed firm confidence that the United States would soon fully restore $650 million — the first tranche of the $1.3 billion in annual aid — to the military that the Obama administration had partly withheld after the takeover.
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Addressing a previously suspended shipment of 10 Apache helicopter gunships that the Egyptian military has been especially eager for, Mr. Kerry said he was just as confident “that the Apaches will come, and that they will come very, very soon.”
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Mr. Kerry said they had talked about the verdict expected Monday in the case of three journalists who have been jailed since December on politicized charges without any publicly disclosed evidence of a crime.
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Sounding hopeful, Mr. Kerry said that the new president “gave me a very strong sense of his commitment” to “a re-evaluation of human rights legislation” and “a re-evaluation of the judicial process.”

So that "strong commitment", payed for with hundreds of millions U.S. taxpayer dollars, some attack helicopters and the kowtowing of Kerry, was worth what?

Egyptian Court Convicts 3 Al Jazeera Journalists

A judge on Monday convicted three journalists of conspiring with the Muslim Brotherhood to broadcast false reports of civil strife in Egypt.
Two of the journalists were sentenced to seven years in prison, and the third was given 10 years, the three additional years apparently for his possession of a single spent bullet.

I have followed the rial. It was an obvious sham. The "evidence" mostly consisted of unrelated video tapes taken in other countries by other journalists.

Sisi has publicly shown Kerry the big finger and there is nothing Kerry can or will do about it but releasing a angry statement. Israel demands that the U.S. keeps Egypt's ruler happy and the Pentagon demands continued preferred access to the Suez Canal.

The episode is a nice demonstration of for U.S. power and influence in the Middle East (not).

Posted by b on June 23, 2014 at 15:57 UTC | Permalink

Comments

El-Sisi Is The Putin Of The Nile

It isn’t hard to imagine Russia’s czar Vladimir Putin backslapping and sharing ribald jokes with the likes of Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi, as the pair are rumored to have done. (“I love all Russian women…the only ones who may compete with them are Italians”, Putin quipped at one especially notable joint press conference with the then-Italian premier.) But it’s more difficult to picture the buttoned-up strongman of Egypt, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, engaging in such crude humor—or parading shirtless for a virile photo op, an activity that clearly counts among Putin’s favorite pastimes.
But of all the world leaders out there today, el-Sisi is perhaps the most like the Russian leader, at least if you take into account their personal beginnings and their respective rises through the ranks of power. And these commonalities could give the West some crucial hints about how el-Sisi—who is expected to declare his presidential bid any day now—might run a post-Arab Spring Egypt, one that has already shown a willingness to engage in warmer relations with Moscow.

The burgeoning relationship between the two powers might well prove worrisome for the United States as Putin seeks to rebuild Russian influence in the Middle East, clout that was lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union. America spoke out harshly against el-Sisi’s de facto coup last summer, curtailing military aid to Egypt after the army ousted the country’s first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi. As a result, Cairo’s infuriated generals have been eager to forge a “strategic realignment” with Gulf powers and with the Kremlin. In November, Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi pointedly evoked Egypt’s Nasser-era alliance with the Soviets: “Egypt went with the Russian military for support and we survived,” he remarked.

El-Sisi got an additional boost during a visit to Moscow last week, when Putin endorsed the newly-minted Field Marshal’s likely bid for the presidency. “I know that you have made a decision to run for president” Putin told the military man. “That’s a very responsible decision to undertake such a mission for the fate of the Egyptian people…I wish you luck both from myself personally and from the Russian people.” Putin also gave the Egyptian official a black jacket with a red star on it, which el-Sisi wore during the trip.

Stars in his eyes, as Sisi shows off gift from Putin

Posted by: Cold N. Holefield | Jun 23 2014 16:41 utc | 1

I dont get it? In what way did he show the finger? Contrary Kerry is in Egypt to show support for the egyptian leader.

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 23 2014 17:08 utc | 2

@3 Um, let's see the Egyptians demanded military hardware and imprisoned journalists during the visit of "chief diplomat" of a superpower who prides itself about free speech rhetoric after Kerry had expressed concern about those journalists. It's an announcement they either think the White House is desperate for arm sales or are announcing they aren't interested with strong U.S. relations.

You might notice the President doesn't golf with the Dahlai Lama when the Chinese President goes to the U.N.

Posted by: NotTimothyGeithner | Jun 23 2014 17:29 utc | 3

Was that directed to me? In case, it didnt make any sense either. No one give him the finger, it just shows the relationship between US and Egypt is good.

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 23 2014 17:37 utc | 4

....usa's continued support for dictatorships.. what else is new?

Posted by: james | Jun 23 2014 18:05 utc | 5

that someone would show the usa the finger? it plays well to the home crowd.. egypt still has a ruthless dictator the usa and israel can be thankful for..

Posted by: james | Jun 23 2014 18:07 utc | 6

Yes, those bad, bad Egyptians, not doing what the USA orders them to do, and even worse, jailing some western media propagandists! The smearing of the Egyptians as Israeli proxies, while pretending the Americans are not is especially amusing.

Posted by: scalawag | Jun 23 2014 18:07 utc | 7

Slightly OT but from The Guardian:

” In another secretly taped conversation, the spokesman for the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, claims Tusk "fucked him [Cameron] up good"

Those poles..

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 23 2014 18:45 utc | 8

I don't believe it that Kerry has been given "the finger" by Egypt.

Although Israel DOES/DID give Kerry "the finger". Kerry tried to broker a peace deal in Israel between the palestinians and the Israelis. But the israelis did give Kerry "the finger".

Posted by: Willy2 | Jun 23 2014 19:37 utc | 9

the usa is always trying to broker a peace deal between israel and palestine.. when will that ongoing joke cease to be a part of the hollywood script? usa/israel has never had an interest in any such deal..

Posted by: james | Jun 23 2014 19:45 utc | 10

It's Israel that doesn't want a "deal" with the Palestinians. Kerry is concerned about his legacy as Secretary of State. And that legacy could be a deal between Israel & the palestinians.

Obama & the White House seem to be wanting that deal. And there're signs the White House wants things to happen Israel doesn't like.

On top of that, it was the White House + General Martin Dempsey that stopped the attack on Syria whereas Kerry wanted to launch a full scale US + NATO attack on Syria in the fall of 2013.

It was the White House that undercut Kerry's attempts to lauch a full scale war on Syria.

Posted by: Willy2 | Jun 23 2014 20:07 utc | 11

And again obama threat with sanctions on Russia.
What a pahetic human being!

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 23 2014 20:51 utc | 12

Has the US every had a more disgraceful "statesman" than John Kerry ? I guess its a waste of time to single out these characters. Its the "policy" and probably, finance oligarchs and the think tanks they fund actually drive and create the policy. Schleps like Jerry and Obama just have to try to sell it.

Posted by: Marc | Jun 23 2014 22:17 utc | 13

aljazeera conspiring with muslim brotherhood...given AJ is qatar state media and has a recent history of fraud regarding egypt and syria....no tears .

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/media/2013/07/09/Al-Jazeera-employees-in-Egypt-quit-over-editorial-line-.html
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2012/07/19/251645/al-arabiya-al-jazeera-fabricate-events-syria-analyst/

Qatar’s foreign policy has also been at odds with other GCC members. In the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, Doha supported Islamist organisations and Muslim Brotherhood-led administrations, including that of Egypt’s former president Mohammed Morsi.

It also hosts exiled members of the Brotherhood from Egypt and Syria, where Qatar is accused of channelling funds to radical elements fighting the regime of Bashar Al Assad.

The relationship between Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood, according to Carnegie Center visiting fellow and Muslim Brotherhood expert, Raphael Lefevre, “has been one of converging interests and mutual trust” since the Arab Spring and is not likely to end.

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/world/qatar/inside-doha-at-the-heart-of-a-gcc-dispute#ixzz35VOg9LQ6
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook
http://www.thenational.ae/world/qatar/inside-doha-at-the-heart-of-a-gcc-dispute

so the claims are quite reasonable

Posted by: brian | Jun 23 2014 22:49 utc | 14

cold and hole in the head quotes the daily beast.,..his daily Putin bashing, without which hed be cranky all day long

Posted by: brian | Jun 23 2014 22:50 utc | 15

Willy2

It was Putin who halted the attack.

The US "wants" a deal that Israel doesn't?
Sure, Dennis Kucinich wants a deal, Ron Paul wanted a deal worth using the term.
Kerry might 'want' a bantustan deal, and probably not that badly enough to rock even a Kahane-ite's boat.
Kerry "wants" a deal about as badly as he "wanted" to vote against the Iraq War.

Posted by: truthbetold | Jun 23 2014 23:18 utc | 16

Cold N. Oldfield is the Carpe Diem of MoA.

Posted by: slirs | Jun 23 2014 23:20 utc | 17

The USA pays Egypt 5 - 6 baksheesh large to keep making nice with the shitty little country, leavened with that rough hewn hypocrisy, the production of which "the west" excels, and of which Kerry is its exemplary carrier.

He ought to enter the Olympics.

Posted by: Thrasyboulos | Jun 24 2014 1:05 utc | 18

I think it's official, the "finger" was given to Kerry. Even a D congressman from Virginia says "Kerry was mocked by al Sisi." Heard it live in an interview about 11pm my time, 5pm DC time.

Posted by: okie farmer | Jun 24 2014 4:43 utc | 19

Posted by: okie farmer | Jun 24, 2014 12:43:11 AM | 19

I think it's official, the "finger" was given to Kerry. Even a D congressman from Virginia says "Kerry was mocked by al Sisi." Heard it live in an interview about 11pm my time, 5pm DC time.

A 70 yo "Okie farmer", born and raised in "the south", who now lives 6 hours east of US east coast time. GMT is 5 hours east.

Posted by: scalawag | Jun 24 2014 6:17 utc | 20

71, and 6 hours, scalawag.

Posted by: okie farmer | Jun 24 2014 6:30 utc | 21

Just calling those british spies from Al Jazeera "Journalists" is an insult to any real journalist. Or to any sort of common sense.

Remember that those were the guys who staged faux-Tripolis in the Qatari desert and produced fake anti-Gadhafi flicks and even worse fake anti-Syrian videos there.

If anything, Sisi did us all a service with that.

And sorry but this is the guy who ended/prevented the actual sharia dictatorship of the british-moslem Brotherhood, who were just about to send a bunch of young Egyptians to fight against their syrian brothers. Calling a patriot and actually a saviour like this a "dictator" is beyond ridiculous.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 24 2014 6:56 utc | 22

@ Wiloly2: Kerry tried to sell Israel to british-owned arabs and Vatican and got slapped. Rightfully so. He is a bitch and bitches get slapped.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 24 2014 6:58 utc | 23

'Rebel' Radio/TV (BBC) got their knickers in a knot last night when they introduced the topic of 'people's right to hear the truth' when covering the story about the 3 jailed Al Jazeera reporters.
It was hard to ignore the contradictoriness of the Empire's (extraordinarily dishonest) mouthpiece.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jun 24 2014 7:20 utc | 24

Given Kerry's penchant for screwing-up, the Apaches he sends may turn out to be a troupe of Apache Dancers, rather than aircraft.

Posted by: George | Jun 24 2014 10:15 utc | 25

They definitely know they have US over the whipping post?,as we've been totally silent on their coup and know that Israel is the bottom line for our traitors in power,and their protection racket means big bucks.And our boy in Cairo most certainly asked about all those MB people they gave a death sentence to,a much more barbaric and disgusting act than sentencing journalists to jail.Confusing though,as Al Jazeera's owners and the Egyptian govt.are both working for US and the Zionist syndicate.What about official Al Jazeera protests,I haven't read or heard any.Were these rogue journalists?

Posted by: dahoit | Jun 24 2014 23:11 utc | 26

@ dahoit, care to explain this then?

http://www.wnd.com/2013/12/u-s-plan-gives-jerusalem-holy-sites-to-vatican/

Just one example 8of many) wher your narrative goes bust.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 6:27 utc | 27

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