Foreign Relations News Covered by Al- Ahram Weekly (Cairo, Egypt) in September
Published since 1991 in Cairo, Egypt, Al-Ahram Weekly launched its electronic edition seven years later, in June 1998. The paper –in both its print and electronic form- is published by the Al-Ahram organization, is in English and claims to be independent presenting news from the Arab World from “an Egyptian perspective” without “whitewashing or propaganda, but rather providing as honest and objective a look at contemporary Egyptian and Arab reality as possible” (Guindy, 1998). It seems however, after looking at the way the articles are written that the newspaper clearly supports the military government of Egypt and is against the Muslim Brotherhood that governed the country before. This short essay will focus on three news stories related with foreign relations in the month of September.
The article, published on September 4, focuses on the departure of the US Ambassador in Cairo, Anne Patterson, but at the same time examines and criticizes the involvement of the US in the Egyptian and Arab political scene. As the title of the article –“A Mournful Legacy- denotes, the author has nothing good to say about Patterson’s stay in Egypt. He condemns her support of the Muslim Brotherhood and President Morsi who was ousted by the military after major and bloody demonstrations in the streets of many Egyptian cities. The author is quick to note that the ambassador represented the official line of American foreign policy, but notes –obviously with an approving tone- that this was adjusted following recent events. The article ends with a warning towards the US, suggesting that it should reconsider its policies from now on in order to save its reputation in Egypt. The author however, does seem optimistic as his presentation of the possible replacement of Anne Patterson –Robert Ford- focuses on the negative role he has played in the Syrian Conflict.
Egypt, Syria and the US
The article, entitled “Who Will be Next?” and published on September 10, focuses on the reaction of Egyptians to the planning of a US military intervention in Syria. The author begins by focusing on views of ordinary people, who are against any American-led strike to end the Syrian conflict. He then proceeds to cite the views of politicians who explain the consequences a military strike in Syrian could have for Egypt and the Arab world in general. The opinions cited in the article suggest that total destruction could result from the strike ranging from the division of Syria into many different states to the beginning of a third world war. The consequences for Egypt are discussed through the involvement of states that have opposed the military occupation of power in Egypt to the Syrian conflict, namely of Turkey, Qatar and Israel. The first two, according to the commentators wish to see the creation of Islamist regimes in all Arab countries something that poses a very real threat to Egypt.
Egyptian soccer players abroad
The article, published on September 25 focuses on the recent performance of seven Egyptian soccer players who play for big European teams. As its title “Soccer on the side: Salah stuns Europe and Chelsea” heralds, the article begins by praising the performance of Mohamed Salah, who according to the author led his team Basil in a victory against Chelsey. It continues by mentioning the very good performance of more Egyptians in European games in Britain, Portugal, Belgium and Italy, stressing in most cases their role in their teams’ victories and/or overall performance. The article ends by discussing the achievements of a few Arab and African soccer players abroad.
WORKS CITED
El-Bey, D. “Who Will Be Next?”, Al-Ahram Weekly, 10 September 2013. Web. 28 September 2013. [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/4050/17/Who-will-be-next-.aspx]
Guindy, H. “Letter from the Editor”, Al-Ahram Weekly, 13 June 1998. Web. 28 September 2013. [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/UI/Front/Letter.aspx]
Ibrahim, E. “A Mournful Legacy”, Al-Ahram Weekly, 4 September 2013. Web. 29 September 2013. [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/4002/17/A-mournful-legacy.aspx]
Zayed, M. “Soccer on the side: Salah stuns Europe and Chelsea”, Al-Ahram Weekly, 25 September 2013. Web. 29 September 2013. [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/4206/26/-Soccer-on-the-side--Salah-stuns-Europe-and-Chelsea.aspx]
