Egypt's 'Elections': Sisi's 'Victory,' US Silence Reigns Supreme
Funny, isn't it, how the US State Department, always quick to decry 'election irregularities' in nations not aligned with its interests, suddenly develops selective amnesia when a crucial regional ally performs such a magnificent feat of political consolidation? Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who came to power via a military coup in 2013, has since systematically dismantled dissent, imprisoned journalists,
and crushed any semblance of genuine opposition. His previous 're-election' in 2018 saw him secure 97% of the vote against a single, utterly token challenger. These aren't elections; they're loyalty tests, thinly veiled as democratic processes to maintain the flow of billions in US aid—$1.3 billion annually in military assistance alone since the Camp David Accords. (Source: Council on Foreign
Relations, 2023). One might wonder if the 'free and fair' metrics used for nations that dare to defy Washington are perhaps stored in a different folder for those like Sisi, who diligently uphold 'regional stability' (read: US interests in the Suez and unquestioning fealty to Israeli policy). The silence from our paragons of democracy in Washington isn't just deafening; it's practically a standing
ovation for authoritarianism, so long as it's 'our' authoritarianism. It appears 'democracy' is a costume to be worn only when convenient.