The Story of Every Age: US Politics Have Not and Will Not Change

American politics are singular and unchanging; they have not changed up until now and will not change in the future. When America acts as a benefactor state, it does so on its own terms and conditions.

In 1947, the Greek engineer Daninus, who was an expert with the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation, had the idea to build a second dam in Aswan next to the Aswan reservoir. After the July 23 revolution in 1952, the Revolution Command Council set into motion the necessary plans to develop the Egyptian economy; one of these projects was the Greek engineer’s dam. Known as the “High Dam,” they tasked the research and planning to a group of senior Egyptian engineers and four global experts, among them two Americans, a Frenchman, and a German.

The research took two years, from 1953 to 1954, at which point the Egyptian government agreed to begin the project. However, the agreement coincided with tumultuous times for Egypt, such as an increase in tensions along the Egyptian-Israeli border, Egypt’s involvement in the Bandung Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement in 1955 and the signing of an arms deal with the Soviets.

At the end of 1955, America, Britain and the World Bank announced their plans to finance the project with foreign currency throughout the various phases of construction. The U.S. promised to provide 20 million Egyptian pounds (EGP), England agreed to provide a grant of 5 million EGP and the World Bank pledged a loan of 70 million EGP.

These promises were made on the condition that Egypt would participate in Middle East Treaty Organization, later known as the Baghdad pact. According to Dr. Abdel El-Raouf Amara in his book “The History of Egyptian-American Relations,” Gamal Abdul Nasser refused to have any part in Western alliances and rejected an offer from the United States to make a reconciliation between Egypt and Israel in an to attempt to settle the conflict between them.

In light of the 1947 decision to divide Palestine, Nasser refused to hold a meeting with Israeli President Ben-Gurion regardless if the meeting was in Cairo or Tel Aviv. After these rejections, America and the West withdrew their offer to help build the High Dam. Eugene Black, president of the World Bank, came to Cairo with new terms and conditions to complete the loan to build the High Dam. One of the conditions was to monitor the state budget and balance of payments to reassure the World Bank of the stability of the Egyptian economy, as well as a demand that Egypt not obtain loans from other nations except with the consent of the World Bank.

America and Britain announced new conditions in order to provide the aid which was promised: that Egypt officially declare its refusal to purchase Soviet weapons, and that Nasser mediate a reconciliation between the Arabs and Israel. Nasser completely refused these conditions. Egypt announced that it would not submit to any of the conditions being forced upon it. Nasser attacked America’s stance toward Egypt and the United States’ attempts at coercing Egypt into joining military alliances. Just like that, the relationship between Egypt and the U.S. was severed, ushering in a new era of strained relations. The U.S. withdrew its offer of military aid, monetary grants and even humanitarian aid.

That is America. It offered the grants and subsidies on the condition that Egypt submit to its wishes, no matter how unfair. Since the revolution broke out on Jan. 25, 2011, there has been an increased number of visits from U.S. officials in Egypt, which all end with flowery declarations that promise more cooperation and assistance to Egypt. Making promises is one thing; keeping them is another.

In the past, the U.S. raised the possibility of revoking promises of aid made to Egypt, especially after Egypt discovered that unauthorized organizations had received illegal funds from the U.S. America’s ire was raised when Egypt condemned members of these organizations, which included 19 Americans. Egyptian officials recalled the words of Nasser: “Egypt will not retreat and will not submit to any conditions that harm our interests.” So, if the purpose of this aid is to interfere with Egyptian affairs, then to that we say, “God is rich, and will provide.”