A NEW ALLIANCE? – AT 10:31 A.M. ET:  The new president of Egypt, a big shot in the Muslim Brotherhood, is consolidating power, much to the dismay of the original democrats who initiated the Arab Spring.  Obama doesn't care.  He doesn't have much objection to the Brotherhood.

And the political left in the West doesn't care.  So what if the Brotherhood wants to put women back in the tenth century?  As long as they're sufficiently anti-American.  Note the silence of "feminist" groups, who are now just branch offices of the left.

Now the Egyptian president announces a trip – one that could have major consequences.  It's a trip to Iran.  A new Iranian-Egyptian axis is a frightening possibility.  For Iran, Egypt could replace the faltering Syrian regime, and give Tehran vast new influence in the Arab world.  From Reuters:  

Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Morsy will visit Iran to attend the Non-Aligned Movement meetings on Aug. 30, Egyptian state news agency MENA reported, the first such visit by an Egyptian head of state to Tehran since the Islamic revolution.

MENA quoted sources at the Egyptian presidency saying on Saturday that Morsy "will participate in the summit" on his way back from China.

A spokesman for Morsy was not immediately available for comment. Egyptian media reports have suggested Morsy might send his newly appointed deputy, Mahmoud Mekki, instead.

Since Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a popular uprising last year, Egypt and Iran have signalled interest in renewing ties severed more than 30 years ago after Iran's Islamic Revolution and Egypt's recognition of Israel.

However, with the West pushing Iran to halt its disputed nuclear program and the United States being a major donor to Egypt's military, any improvement in ties could become a tricky path to tread.

COMMENT:  The question is whether America will halt military aid to Egypt if Cairo tilts toward Iran, or even continues its internal boosts to the Brotherhood.  It's unlikely, first because military aid is one of our few points of leverage, and because others might then step in to provide that aid.  Also, as noted, Obama doesn't seem much concerned with events in Egypt.  He has a clear sympathy for the Muslim world, and it's been on display.

If Obama gets a second term, I dread to think what he'll do with our Mideast foreign policy.

August 19, 2012