UAE potentates in Cairo inspecting their new acquisition

“Two of the Persian Gulf’s richest monarchies pledged $8 billion in cash and loans to Egypt on Tuesday, a decision that was aimed not only at shoring up a shaky transitional government, but also at undermining their Islamist rivals and strengthening their allies across a newly turbulent Middle East. The robust financial aid package announced by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates came a day after the Egyptian military killed dozens of Muslim Brotherhood members protesting last week’s military ouster of Egypt’s Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi. The aid package underscored a continuing regional contest for influence between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, one that has accelerated since the Arab uprising upended the status quo and brought Islamists to power………………The Saudis and Emiratis were nearly buoyant at the military’s move to oust Mr. Morsi………………………..”

Media report that Kuwait’s government has just joined Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the GCC bid for the Egyptian military. The bid so far is for a total of $12 billion. Qatar is unlikely to join now that its allies were overthrown by the military coup. Bahrain doesn’t have the money, besides it is paying as much as it can for imported mercenaries and American and British Public Relations firms and lobbyists.
Cheers
mhg