The statement issued by the US State Department, in which it criticized the arrest by Egyptian authorities of a number of the participants in the recent April 6 demonstration, was nothing new. Similarly, the Egyptian response to it was also reiterated. In addition, the result which the US behavior and the Egyptian response have led to contains nothing new. Indeed, US administrations always give themselves the right to evaluate the conduct of governments and authorities in every other country in the world, especially when it comes to human rights, freedoms and religions. In return, the Egyptian government always rushes to respond to every American criticism and to assert rejecting it, considering the matter (any matter) to be an internal affair. The result is that the US Administration continues to evaluate, and the Egyptian government continues to comment and to reject. In my estimation, every American intervention on behalf of a person, segment of society or opposition party in Egypt does more harm than good to the person, segment or party which Uncle Sam supposedly seeks to show solidarity with or to unburden. There are in the history of Egyptian-American relations stages of this kind and people who were greatly affected as a result of US intervention. Doctor Ayman Nour and Doctor Saad Eddin Ibrahim are clear examples of this, and it is no secret that the majority of Egyptian opposition forces and figures avoid dealing with American parties working in the fields of freedoms, reform and human rights, so as not to be suspected of dealing with external parties or of using foreigners to gain strength. Former US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice used to always be met with polite refusal to meet with her by Egyptian opposition figures during her visits to the Egyptian capital, whereas those who would agree to meet with her would be faced with criticism even from Egyptian opposition circles. Egyptian public figures fear for their reputation and know that focusing only on the immediate situation and obtaining quick gains after abandoning sound thinking and wise conduct will in the end lead only to trouble and loss, and perhaps disaster. Thus, the coming months, during which three important elections will take place in Egypt, the midterm renewal elections of the Shura Council, followed by the People's Assembly elections, then the presidential elections next year, will witness press releases and official statements by the US regarding Egyptian affairs, and they will certainly include criticism and objections, because the current scene does not indicate a change in the way Egyptian authorities deal with opposition forces, and certainly the US Administration under President Barack Obama, which has not achieved any progress on the Palestinian issue, will be faced with responses pointing to its failure in that issue and to its attempt to gain the favors of the Egyptian opposition in another. As a general rule, no one should expect for Egyptian-American relations to be affected by the quarrels that take place from time to time between the two countries, quarrels which have become an integral part of these relations. And despite US criticism and Egyptian responses, the two sides have become satisfied with what is happening, such that the matter has become as if part of the work of the public relations teams of the official apparatus in Washington and in Cairo. Moreover, as long as the US Administration continues to suffer from failure to fulfill promises it has made to itself regarding issues that are important to Arabs and Muslims in general, the faith of Egyptian opposition forces, and not just governments, in the US's intentions will remain the object of doubt. As for the attempts by some opposition members to make use of the American card in their disputes with governments, they originate in despair from their government or from the ability of the latter to solve their problems or those of society. Yet every past attempt and experience engaged in by some Egyptian opposition members to seek the support of the US has proved unsuccessful… and always will.
