Heating Up: Egypt vs. Hezbullah/Iran

[NewsGuy]

Well, well, well... A major dispute is now brewing between Egypt and Hezbullah/Iran. A few days ago, Egypt caught a large cell of Hezbullah terrorists (including an Israeli Arab, btw), which was operating in Egypt. While Egypt has pretty much turned a blind eye to weapons being smuggled into Gaza by Hezbullah, this time the Iranian operated terror group intended on murdering Israeli tourists vacationing in the Sinai and also apparently Hezbullah intended on blowing up ships in the Suez canal. That could have cost Egypt billions in lost revenue and also weakened the Egyptian government standing in the eyes of its people. So Egypt started a war of words with Hezbullah, including calling Nasrallah a "monkey Sheik" in the government-controlled press (Take that, you monkeys!). And Egyptian ministers are calling for the indictment of Hezbullah leader Nasrallah's for terrorism. Wow. Now, that would be great!

Here's an interesting perspective from Haaretz:

From news article:

It is sometimes hard to believe the remarks coming out of Cairo over the past 48 hours are actually directed at Hezbollah. The Egyptian press has tagged its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, with denigrating epithets like the "monkey sheikh," and remarks from security officials in Cairo to the Israeli press sound reminiscent of how generals speak in times of war.

[...]

One possible explanation for Hezbollah's actions is that its leader became a victim of his own hubris. After blatantly intervening in Palestinian affairs, he took de facto control of Lebanon and openly threatened Egypt during Israel's Gaza offensive for supposedly siding with the"Zionist enemy."

Perhaps he erred in believing he could go toe-to-toe with Mubarak, and even hoped the move would bolster support of his organization ahead of Lebanese elections in two months.

[...]

Former Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. (Res.) Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash believes Nasrallah was fulfilling a mission he was ordered to carry out by Iran.

[...]

Ze'evi-Farkash believes the Middle East is on the brink of a particularly significant period in its history as the Barack Obama administration calls for renewed dialogue with Tehran.

[...]

In Israel's eyes, a high-profile confrontation between Egypt, Iran and Hezbollah is good news.

The question is whether Mubarak has the clout to cause real political damage to Iran and Hezbulah.

[bararallu]

It's almost fortunate that having a weak hand in Washington makes Arab top kleptocrats shake in their shoes and become reactionary vs Iran. The time to strike is now, but not with any sort of direct attack. The Egyptians and Saudis can be brought on board to pump billions of dollars and field thousands of fighters to offset Iranian gains in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Israel has a place at that table as well. What Iran needs is medicine of the same type that it like to administer in Israel, Lebanon and Iraq. As does it's canine Syria. In fact 100x that. Who needs to bomb nuclear sites when we can bring down the whole regime, and do it regionally w/o US involvement...

[Sharona]

Ah, but given that Jews and Christians are 'apes and pigs', 'monkey' might be very inflammatory

Nonie Darwish mentions Nasser referring to an Arab leader using some word that would be meaningless to us in the West, but is a huge insult in the ME/Arab lands.

Is there an optimal season for terrorising? The reason I ask is that UK police have also just hit on eleven 'plotters' in the North of England.

[NewsGuy]

It's almost fortunate that having a weak hand in Washington makes Arab top kleptocrats shake in their shoes and become reactionary vs Iran. The time to strike is now, but not with any sort of direct attack. The Egyptians and Saudis can be brought on board to pump billions of dollars and field thousands of fighters to offset Iranian gains in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Israel has a place at that table as well. What Iran needs is medicine of the same type that it like to administer in Israel, Lebanon and Iraq. As does it's canine Syria. In fact 100x that. Who needs to bomb nuclear sites when we can bring down the whole regime, and do it regionally w/o US involvement...

I agree with you that if there could be cooperation among Israel, Egypt, Saudi, the Emirates, etc., against Iran, it would be very good. (And even better if the Arabs could do it by themselves without Israeli involvement, actually).

All they would need to do is the same daily attacks in the local press and organize daily public street demonstrations against Iran and Hezbullah for a few months. I'm not sure they would even need to use any military action at all.

[Kenneth]

Monkey, ape whatever.

[wat0n]

This is quite interesting. Will the Sunni Arabs unoffically side with Israel if Iran gets nukes (and I think the Iranians will and we will have to live with it)?

[NewsGuy]

Kenneth, that's great!

[bararallu]

This is quite interesting. Will the Sunni Arabs unoffically side with Israel if Iran gets nukes (and I think the Iranians will and we will have to live with it)?

I doubt it's going to be official, the bedrock of this cooperation is with Jordan, always has been, and then to Egypt.

[wat0n]

I doubt it's going to be official, the bedrock of this cooperation is with Jordan, always has been, and then to Egypt.

Indeed, that's what I think too. This means we will see a much more serious effort to weaken Hamas and Hezbollah by the Sunnis if Iran gets the nuke? I think it's quite possible, heck, after all Israel and Iran helped each other with dealing with Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war at least unofficially. I guess the same thing will happen with let's say Saudi Arabia?

[Mediocrates]

Well consider this. Egypt receives massive amounts of civilian and military aid from the US. If Iran wants to tangle with them then only one course of action is clear. Obama must immediately threaten to ratchet back the aid while pressuring them to give in to whatever Iranbullah requires. 4-5 years at the most Hezbullah will claim control of the Suez canal.