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Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Fouad Ajami on the Egyptian President’s expanding power and how the U.S. should handle it.
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-- Egypt's president Mohamed Morrissey who helped broker the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Is standing by is declaration of powers that he says cannot be in any way infringed upon by Egypt's judiciary.
It sparked violent protests and demonstrations.
And the White House today did express some concerns but certainly stop well short of in any way.
-- Criticizing or from -- Is move.
Joining me now the culture of the working group on as -- -- -- and the international order at the Hoover institution Wall Street Journal contributor.
Who want a -- good to have you with these -- -- Let let's start first professor with.
Within.
Within -- day.
-- Morrissey as president of Egypt declares he has new powers within a day of that cease fire.
Being announced in taking whole.
Breathtaking.
Arrogance was it planned.
How how do we how should we proceed.
Well -- -- stunning display you shouldn't say flexibility on Wednesday he brokers a deal between Israel and Hamas.
And he is the darling of the international community.
And he is.
Praised by President Obama the world fonds on on Mohamad -- -- -- -- -- that he imposes would in fact emergency powers.
-- in Egypt and suspends the constitutional left the country.
So it tends to that he use the credits he earned abroad for domestic repression at home.
Domestic repression button on the -- it is is it not.
Fully coordinated and support by the Muslim brotherhood of what she is a major part of -- you know he's very coy about whether he's a member of the Muslim Brotherhood or not.
And of course in the new he's an -- but -- actually -- the Muslim Brotherhood.
And the need leaders and maybe that -- ruler of of Egypt is the supreme guide.
Of the Muslim Brotherhood there was nothing about -- see that entitle him to the presidency he was just amended the Muslim Brotherhood put up for election.
And the White House today.
And I wanna get your assessment.
Jay Carney the white house press spokesman as you know said.
We are concerned about.
Foresees.
Taking dictatorial power in fact.
We are concerned about and have raised those concerns.
He also said the president hasn't spoken with -- since the ceasefire.
Our -- he acquired those new powers -- what is your perception of what the White House is doing and its response.
Well that's very -- to say we are concerned about what Mohamed who -- is doing.
We have that kind of the prominent position in an Egyptian politics we have sway over to Egypt we have money that we invest.
In -- of the this face of egyptians.
Have always played a very shrewd game.
They did dependable but they're not doing it and a more serious than equivalent of too big to -- The -- big country it is very important country because stiffest that they anytime we keep hoping that they would launch -- tune but they don't.
And I think there isn't really much of the White House could do is -- that the United States has so gullible.
Or is it that we are so acquiesce and and actually feel well served.
By their pursuit of their interest.
Irrespective of time to time annoyances like.
Acquiring dictatorial powers on the part of a man is supposed to be the symbol.
Of the Arab Spring.
Right -- you know I think we have there is -- kind of the has been a definite erosion of American influence in the region.
And if you take a look at the anti American access -- -- -- -- when you take a look at it on Syria Hezbollah and Hamas.
These -- very powerful people and they really are playing for keeps they know what they're doing on our side.
Would it knew that it -- into the region -- out of the region and the Quinn was Secretary Clinton.
Rushed to the scene -- -- rushed to the Middle East after the war broke out between.
Hamas and Israel she was in the Far East this was the so called -- that we have riveted to the funniest.
And the president was visiting Buddhist pagodas are in the -- -- from this war broke out.
And three southeastern Asian country's.
Not going near India nor China.
You you mentioned her -- was -- -- by Iran and Syria.
Who along with Egypt in that.
If you will that axis with in the Middle East Syria itself what are the implications for it as a result of what we're witnessing in Egypt.
And the the obvious.
Victory -- war.
-- wrong here in brokering this deal along with.
More see where there he is the ultimate actor or where there he is if you will acting in the interest of others.
When which we've witnessed -- in the in this in this recent war in the small wars in the region is really a proxy war between Iran and Israel.
This is really in loans each now extends to Hezbollah in the in Beirut and Hamas in the Palestinian territories these rockets that -- -- fired.
Into Israel that would be excluded these put it on -- rockets supplied by the in onions.
And destroyed most of them by is absolutely but these clues that these -- -- -- the indeed the -- of Hamas.
Derives from the part of it on there's no doubt about that implications for sure.
But look the city -- there have been you know and in the -- -- -- on us that -- on good days.
-- a good days no one came to the rescue of the sin and rebellion.
And indeed that the multi in Egypt and at the mall and that war but it -- -- -- and Hamas plays -- -- is bullish -- -- -- no doubt about it.
Broader chart -- well respected for bear in Q artsy.
Up.
