On Thursday 25 April 2002 16:18, you wrote: > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of The Fool > > Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 4:02 PM > > To: Brin_L (Brin-L) > > Subject: Egypt > > > > > > http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/04/24/1019441265555.html > > > > > > Egypt ready to wage war on Israel ... for $US100 billion > > April 25 2002 > > Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid said his country would go > > to war with Israel if Arab countries stumped up $US100 > > billion ($A186.32 billion) to pay for the confrontation, in > > an interview published yesterday. > > "If you want to undertake an action and be ready to face up > > to challenges, you need at least $100 billion," he told the > > Abu Dhabi Government's Al-Ittihad newspaper when asked why > > Egypt had taken no measures against Israel's military > > offensive against the Palestinians. > > "I told you we want $100 billion," he repeated in response to > > a question why Cairo had not expelled Israel's ambassador to Egypt. > > "Let the Arab world give $100 billion from Arab funds > > deposited around the world. Let it say to Egypt: 'This is a > > budget for confrontation. This budget is at your disposal. > > Undertake confrontation,' " he said. > > Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak accused Israel yesterday of > > going "beyond all limits" with its military actions in the > > West Bank, particularly in Bethlehem and Jenin. > > Egypt became the first Arab country to make peace with Israel > > and signed a treaty in 1979. Protesters in Egypt have > > frequently called for cutting diplomatic ties with Israel and > > expelling the Israeli ambassador. > > AFP > > Please plesae please, someone say he was being flippant and was > misquoted? > > -j-
It is a form of flippancy. As it party A (either an irate Egyptian citizen or non-Egyptian Arab) accuses Egypt of coddling Israel (because it is). Egypt's prime minister calls the bet: Fine: Give me $100 billion and I'll go to war with Israel to help the @#$% Palestinians. I'll donate the .5 million young Egyptian lives and the loss of postive rapport with the US and Europe. All you need to do is find the money. In an ideal world (for Egypt) Egypt would have started a war, or at least a border conflict with Israel. Egyptians have no love of Israel. They keep the peace with their irritating neighbor because it is manifestly in the interest of Egypt to do so. If Egypt ever becomes even modestly affluent, Israel had better solve its Palestinian problem fast. (Egyptians still won't like Israel or Jews but they aren't idiots. They won't spend blood and treasure over a mere grudge.)
