Does Gulf's Aid to Egypt Aim To Contain the Revolution?

The Arabs outside Egypt are euphoric after Egyptian demonstrators succeeded in putting the revolution back on track toward achieving the dreams of millions of people. Those millions returned to the street to protect their achievement, which in their view marked a new promising beginning for modern Arab history.


The Arabs outside Egypt were appalled by how the Muslim Brotherhood hijacked the first revolution in early 2011. The Brotherhood rode the popular wave and colluded with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to grab the presidency. They did a series of maneuvers that changed the constitution and that determined the outcome of the legislative elections. Using deception and trickery, the Brotherhood effectively seized the political decision-making in Egypt.

The Arabs outside Egypt were overjoyed by the sight of millions returning to the streets to oppose the Brotherhood’s monopoly. Then victory was sealed when the army joined the people and implemented their decision to sack President Mohammed Morsi and remove the Muslim Brotherhood from power. The army appointed a temporary government that will pave the way for a representative government. The latter is expected to rebuild the state in a way that satisfies the people’s hopes for a better future.

The Arabs outside Egypt are closely following this blessed movement that may remake their future, not just Egypt’s. They are worried about the revolution’s fate. Tens of millions of Egyptians protested in the streets in an unprecedented scene. But after the Muslim Brotherhood’s fall, the Arabs are worried that the United States and Israel will affect that event’s repercussions, politically and economically.

Egypt has been desperately in need of aid and loans to overcome this difficult phase, economically and socially. Suddenly, billions of Gulf dollars started pouring into Egypt. First, it was Saudi Arabia, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), then Kuwait. About $12 billion has quickly descended into Egypt after the Muslim Brotherhood has spent a full year trying in vain to get a loan from the International Monetary Fund for about half that amount. And all this Gulf money was given not only unconditionally, but also without Egypt even requesting it.

As everybody knows, money is one of the most dangerous political weapons. So why was all that money given now? Are Saudi and Gulf rulers reassured about Egypt’s new rule? The new rule’s shape is not yet clear. It is a hybrid of the will of millions of protesters and the army.

So why was that money given now and not before? The economic crisis has suddenly gotten worse. Without knowing why, fuel and food have become scarce. A suspicious reconciliation took place with wealthy crooks, who had used their government connections to obtain land on which they built luxury tourism facilities with money they didn’t have because they were “partners” with the government. Some of them were given monopolistic control over foodstuff and certain imports.
There are no emotions in politics. It is difficult to believe that the Arab rulers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait have started providing aid to Egypt because they suddenly recognized the Egyptian people’s struggle and sacrifices for Arab issues and for the Arab nation’s dignity. Where was all this aid a year ago, or decades ago when Egyptians were migrating in search of work?

Is this sudden Gulf generosity a US decision intended to contain the revolution and limit its political repercussions in the region? The United States can significantly influence decision-making in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states because it has played a big part in developing their oil wealth. Does the United States want to stabilize Egypt — even temporarily — after the “coup” that overthrew Morsi to prevent the revolution from moving forward after the army sided with the people?

Does the United States want to stabilize Egypt to preserve the Egypt-Israel agreements signed by previous regimes and maintained by the Brotherhood? Let us remember that Morsi once sent a “warm” letter to Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Did Washington side with the coup because it is confident that those who conducted it can ensure US interests in the region, especially “Israeli security,” more than the Brotherhood can?

Did the United States side with the coup because it considered the Brotherhood to have completely failed and has become a burden on US policy and interests in the region? Or was it because Washington is more comfortable with military rule than with Brotherhood rule?

It there a plan by Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries — under US auspices — to prevent the revolution from achieving its original objectives in rebuilding Egypt’s original identity as a strong and capable country that can regain its leadership role in the Arab and African regions?

The questions are many. But one source of comfort is the protesters themselves. They have proved to be always vigilant and ready to return to the streets to protect their revolution from being stolen or diverted. That is why the Arabs outside Egypt still have hope for a better future.