Egypt: Old Ally, New Strategy - Sinai History, Present Day, Smart Power Recommendations, Struggle Against Terrorist and Insurgent Forces, Defeat of Violent Extremist Organizations

This report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Arguably, since the end of the Cold War the United States has lacked a comprehensive and cohesive overarching organizing principle or grand strategy that prioritizes goals, identifies means, and applies the proper tools of power to guide the United States through the geopolitical challenges of the first half of the 21st century. As a result, crucial decisions regarding war and peace are made on an ad hoc, muddling-through basis with mixed results at a significant cost in lives and treasure. The failings of international relations theory, the unmatched role of key individuals in developing and implementing a grand strategy of containment for the Cold War, and issues of statecraft are relevant contributing factors in maintaining this general condition. The United States can best support Egypt in its struggle against terrorist and insurgent forces in the Sinai by employing smart United States power because an appropriate mixture of developmental, diplomatic and defense assistance will further establish favorable democratic reform, provide for the defeat of violent extremist organizations and ensure lasting stability in the sub-region.

This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

The United States can best support Egypt in its struggle against terrorist and insurgent forces in the Sinai by employing smart United States power because an appropriate mixture of developmental, diplomatic and defense assistance will further establish favorable democratic reform, provide for the defeat of violent extremist organizations and ensure lasting stability in the sub-region. This essay will begin with a brief description of Sinai history, then discussion on traditional soft and hard power, then introduce the concept of smart power. Next, this essay will provide a description of the three elements of smart power followed by recommendation of strategies within each element that best support Egypt's efforts in the Sinai. Finally, this essay will summarize the recommendations in one holistic strategy.

The Revolution in Egypt began as a result of King Farouk, the tenth monarch of the dynasty that had begun with Muhammad Ali. King Farouk seemed to enjoy the glamorous lifestyle of monarchy with little regard for the grinding poverty of the fellahin. King Farouk was also considered a puppet for the United Kingdom and was consumed by corruption. All of these factors; lifestyle, puppet regime, corruption, compelled a group of Egyptian Armed Forces officers to create the Free Officers Movement to overthrow King Farouk. The movement was organized as a cell within the Muslim Brotherhood and remained secret even during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The movement announced the revolution on 22 July 1952 following a period of internal crisis, King Farouk was ordered to abdicate in favor of his son, Fuad II. General Gamal Abdel Nasser introduced a new constitution, forming a government based on pan-Arab nationalism and not Islamic principles.