Cordesman Withdraws Protesting Mansours Questions Al-Jazeera Net, May 29, 2014 Anthony Cordesman, American thinker and professor of defense and strategic affairs at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), withdrew from Al-Jazeeras Belahodood (Without Frontiers) Program of Wednesday, May 28, 2014 in protest against questions raised by Ahmed Mansour, the Programs Presenter. The episode was due to discuss the US future policy on the Middle East, in light of rapprochement with Iran and support of the military coup in Egypt against the democratic experience. A technical problem occurred, preventing the guest, who was being hosted via satellite from Washington DC, from hearing translation. However, after fixing the problem, the guest refused to complete the interview in protest against questions asked by the programs presenter. For his part, Mansour said he gave the guest full opportunity to answer the questions without interruption, and did not respond to charges leveled by the guest against him. Mansour believed that his questions were normal and could be directed to any other US official, especially if he adopts a certain attitude. At the beginning of the program, Mansour asked the guest about the US Administrations stance on what is taking place in the Arab World, pointing to the farce electoral plays in Egypt and Syria; farces that followed what happened in Iraqs elections. Answering a question about the US stance on Egypt, Cordesman said America could not stand hand-folded; that is why it reduced its military support and pressurized the Egyptian government. However, at a certain time we have to deal with the governments as they are, he added. Asked to describe what is going on in Egypt, Cordesman said it is a conflict over power, won by the military. He also said the Muslim Brotherhood, during the one-year rule, manipulated the Constitution and the legislative council. He raised questions to the effect that what would happen to Egyptians; who could bring about moderation once again after three years of (conflict); who could regain economic development!. Cordesman holds the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at CSIS, The Burke Chair in Strategy provides political and military analysis of key strategic challenges facing the United States and the world. He frequently acts as a consultant to the U.S. State Department and Defense Department. The American strategic thinker stressed that his country is a superpower, but does not have a magic wand with which it solves the world problems. As for the US aid to the current regime in Egypt, Cordesman said aid is extended to the Egyptian government and the US Administration does not give financial assistance to Egypt. Money, flowing to the Egyptian government, comes from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, he said, adding that Washington extends military assistance only. Anthony Cordesman holds the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at CSIS. The Burke Chair in Strategy provides political and military analysis of key strategic challenges facing the United States and the world. Efforts include Middle East issues, U.S. national security, Chinese military development, lessons of war analysis, the global military balanc, and global energy security. Cordesman has traveled frequently to Afghanistan and Iraq to consult for MNF-I, ISAF, U.S. commands, and U.S. embassies on the wars in those countries, and he was a member of the Strategic Assessment Group that assisted General Stanley McChrystal in developing a new strategy for Afghanistan in 2009. He frequently acts as a consultant to the U.S. State Department, Defense Department, and intelligence community and has worked with U.S. officials on counterterrorism and security areas in a number of Middle East countries.
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 13:19:16 +0000
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