Alexandria's Tram and Egypt's Faustian Bargain
📰 THE STORY: Al-Monitor reports on the planned shutdown of Alexandria, Egypt's historic tramway, a 150-year-old system, to make way for a 'modern' replacement, sparking concerns among locals about heritage loss and disruption. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Egypt's economic stability is heavily reliant on an annual $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid, codified by the Camp
David Accords in 1978. This aid effectively co-opts the Egyptian government, particularly its military leadership, into maintaining regional 'stability' – which often means upholding Israeli policy objectives, like keeping the Rafah border crossing with Gaza sealed during a genocide. The 'modernization' of infrastructure often comes with external loans and contracts that further entrench
dependency. Double Standard: Western media outlets often cheer on 'modernization' projects in developing nations as signs of progress, even when they displace communities, destroy heritage, or involve opaque financial dealings. Yet, when nations considered 'adversaries' undertake large infrastructure projects, they are scrutinized for debt traps or human rights abuses, as seen with China's Belt
and Road Initiative, even when those projects might offer real development without the same political strings attached. Here, the 'contested overhaul' is framed as a local issue, not a symptom of a larger, subservient economic model. Follow the Money: The military-industrial complex in Egypt, heavily subsidized by U.S. aid, has massive control over the economy. 'Development projects' like the tram