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Diligent Innovations CEO Mike Barrett, American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar Michael Rubin and FNC contributor Judith Miller on U.S. plans to...
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Turning now to some stunning news in Egypt despite the bloodshed and chaos in the streets of Cairo the US is giving.
The Egyptian government twenty F sixteen fighter jets.
The first four which will be delivered in just six weeks it is part of a billion dollar military aid aid package that was brokered.
With former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak back and when he ten.
But -- markets go on and president Mohamed Marcy is clearly playing a different a dangerous game.
Given the current situation protesters destructive palace more than a dozen dead hundreds are injured why on earth are handing over twenty -- fighter jets.
-- regime we don't exactly trust we have -- money power panel of mideast experts here to explain Mike Barrett.
Is the principal at the security consulting firm diligent in -- patient's.
Judy Miller is an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan institute -- also Fox News contributor.
And Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.
Mike -- -- let me start with you.
Why are we doing this.
Well you know I I actually have a hard time explaining this you know I've been on your show before we've talked about it in general.
Giving some money to the military is a good idea because of somewhat of a moderating force within Egypt.
But giving money for education for training purposes even small weapons small arms and ammunition that's one thing.
You know twenty F sixteens is puts an entirely different category and frankly surprised that they're gonna do this -- I thought that maybe this had something to do wit to deal that president Morrissey brokered between Hamas and Israel -- -- this is payback but this -- been in the works for a long time.
Exactly and that's why -- if the -- -- disorder it would send a hugely.
Negative signal just at a time when the United States is -- is hoping that somehow.
The Egyptian government government manages to hold together so far they are their own worst enemy -- doing everything they can to screw things up not.
We still hope.
We hope that they are going to prevail at least President Obama does because the alternative is more violence and chaos yet.
Michael I mean come from a point of view of optics it seems like this is a very tough sell at you ought to point -- we know that.
Egypt is supplying weapons to Hamas it was on the other side.
You know with our ally Israel -- that mean giving fighter jets to.
Egypt seems.
Bizarre.
It is absolutely bizarre and it's inexcusable it goes beyond just Egypt's links to.
Hamas it -- has been actively flirting with.
Not only has the -- but with the Islamic Republic of Iran so we really need to ask ourselves do we really trust the Egyptian regime.
Not to share this technology with our worst enemies.
Mike what do you think about that.
Well I I agree with Michael 100% I'm and I I think that there's any number of challenges that the Egyptian regime has and we you know we hope that there's less chaos but given them -- introducing more firepower.
Into the equation is not gonna help that.
And I think unfortunately just like we saw after the soft -- -- Iran and we ended up having to go toe to tell against US made weapons because we provided them under the Charlotte's.
In the following regime we're -- have gone against our own weapons.
Absolutely Judy we were talking in the commercial break in your saying that there is a meeting tomorrow with that -- -- ministry.
What do we know about that would impact of that on the situation had this happen late today and basically defense minister is now trying to act as a mediator.
Between president Morrissey.
And the opposition groups that are at loggerheads and her in the streets right now he summoned he's called a meeting he says it's not political.
It's an effort to kind of cool things down calm things down.
President -- C did not know about this meeting in advance stunned by -- mountain defense minister and I think it's a mistake right now to view.
-- Egyptian defense people has hostile or are.
At -- acting contrary to their own countries' interest if Egypt falls apart.
Everything falls apart yeah don't want that -- parent I mean this is a great point and sometimes we don't even know -- we're giving these planes to.
Well that's right and so you know for example I I used to live in Turkey -- very close to Turkey I love it as a country but one of the things we see is that the Islamist oriented government there.
Has actually really taken over the reins in terms of military they put the senior military officers on trial.
And as a result they now -- -- a lot more political influence over this so while I agree with Judy on the point.
That the Egyptian military itself is not the problem when I'm worried about is who's going to be giving orders to the Egyptian military -- a year two years three years.
So what -- the best way to play that I -- we all agree that there is a lot of uncertainty in this situation it's incredibly volatile.
You know everyone in charge and in power over there may or may not be Air France but at the same time withdrawing everything.
Brings it's own -- Michael -- let me start with you what do you think is the best way to respond.
To maintain influence but you know not turn -- weapons to people are gonna use them against us -- our allies.
First of all.
We have to understand that -- -- shouldn't be too big to foul.
And that American weaponry and American taxpayer assistance shouldn't be an entitlement to fundamentally and increasingly -- -- regime.
That said I think we should slow overall I'm a less -- wind and -- about the Egyptian military.
That most Americans know our generals as war fighters.
Most egyptians don't really know -- generals app for their -- on the battlefield the egyptians have never won a war.
They know there generals as businessman first and foremost.
And what I see the Egyptian military doing right now is seeing which side either Mohamed more C or the people on the street.
Are gonna cut them a better deal and -- not so sort of the Egyptian military's interest is anything other than their bank account.
Judy with our best play here luck I understand -- Michael sang -- I agree to a certain extent but right now we have people in the streets already killing one another.
In the world's largest Arab country with eight million people.
I think we need to play this card out I think what I think the Obama administration could not do is they should stop.
Falling all over president Moore -- and praising him for little things like.
The cease fire in the Israeli Gaza conflict to -- you can be supportive without being kind of slavishly pro.
President -- seeing right now a great deal is at stake and the Obama administration on exercise a little more caution but yes I hate to say -- keep those plans going.
Mike -- -- last fourteen year what's your take what's our wrestler from here.
I I I agree with the slow roll approach and and I don't wanna see their economy collapse I don't wanna get in a situation where we have sanctions and what really causing the people a lot of heartache but I also don't wanna do anything in the props of this regime.
I would hope that in a democratic way they can you know they can have another election get to a constitutional crisis and get rid of these guys.
Because I think and it that's not in their long term interest or in ours for the Muslim Brotherhood to be strengthened to act tough situation power panel thanks so much for your time.
Thank you they're thankful.
