Will this be next Middle East war?
Egypt: Military prepares as major dispute
threatens to rock region
05 April, 2011 | By Aaron Klein (WND)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The dispute centers around the Nile River, which is used by both
Ethiopia and Egypt for water resources.
Ethiopia is planning to construct a nearly $5 billion dam, called the
Great Millennium Dam, along the Nile River about 25 miles from the
Sudan border. The dam will section off a larger portion of the Nile
than is used now by Ethiopia.
Egypt is adamantly opposed to the dam or any deal that would reduce
its share of the Nile and give more access to other countries.
A 1929 colonial-era treaty gives Egypt majority rights to the Nile's
waters. But six African countries have signed a petition, the Entebbe
Agreement, calling for all Nile Basin countries to modify the old pact
and re-allocate the shares of water from the Nile River.
Egyptian security sources say Cairo is appealing to the U.S. and
European Union to oppose the proposed Ethiopian dam.
The sources said the Egyptian military believes Israel is encouraging
Ethiopia to build the dam as a way to weaken the caretaker Egyptian
government following the toppling of Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
Mubarak was a stanch U.S. ally.
The sources further said the Egyptian military has been told to prepare
for any eventuality regarding the situation.
While the Egyptian security sources said they hoped the confrontation
did not escalate to a military level, one source told WND "the regime
may be inching closer to a water war."
The dispute marks the latest militant stance by the new Egyptian
regime amid fears in the country of the rise of the Muslim
Brotherhood. The Brotherhood seeks to create an Islamic caliphate.
Both Hamas and al-Qaida are Brotherhood offshoots.
On Monday, former International Atomic Energy Agency chief
Mohamed ElBaradei, who had previously announced his intentions to
run for the presidency of Egypt, said "if Israel attacked Gaza we
would declare war against the Zionist regime."
The same day, Egypt's foreign minister said Cairo is ready to re-
establish diplomatic ties with Tehran after a break of more than 30
years, signaling a clear shift in Iran policy since the fall of Mubarak.
"The Egyptian and Iranian people deserve to have mutual relations
reflecting their history and civilization," said Foreign Minister Nabil
Elaraby after meeting with Iranian official Mugtabi Amani.
Days after Mubarak stepped aside, Egypt allowed the passage of two
Iranian warships through the strategic Suez Canal for the first time
since 1979.
Also WND reported last month, the Egyptian military command met
with Hamas to discuss ways to build a better relationship with the
Islamist organization.
Sponsored Link: I don’t want to scare you… But right now, the U.S.
government is doing something incredibly stupid, which could
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Courtesy
Egypt: Military prepares as major dispute
threatens to rock region
05 April, 2011 | By Aaron Klein (WND)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
- JERUSALEM – The
new Egyptian
government has
instructed its military to
prepare for any
eventuality regarding a
crucial water dispute
with neighboring
Ethiopia, according to
The dispute centers around the Nile River, which is used by both
Ethiopia and Egypt for water resources.
Ethiopia is planning to construct a nearly $5 billion dam, called the
Great Millennium Dam, along the Nile River about 25 miles from the
Sudan border. The dam will section off a larger portion of the Nile
than is used now by Ethiopia.
Egypt is adamantly opposed to the dam or any deal that would reduce
its share of the Nile and give more access to other countries.
A 1929 colonial-era treaty gives Egypt majority rights to the Nile's
waters. But six African countries have signed a petition, the Entebbe
Agreement, calling for all Nile Basin countries to modify the old pact
and re-allocate the shares of water from the Nile River.
Egyptian security sources say Cairo is appealing to the U.S. and
European Union to oppose the proposed Ethiopian dam.
The sources said the Egyptian military believes Israel is encouraging
Ethiopia to build the dam as a way to weaken the caretaker Egyptian
government following the toppling of Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
Mubarak was a stanch U.S. ally.
The sources further said the Egyptian military has been told to prepare
for any eventuality regarding the situation.
While the Egyptian security sources said they hoped the confrontation
did not escalate to a military level, one source told WND "the regime
may be inching closer to a water war."
The dispute marks the latest militant stance by the new Egyptian
regime amid fears in the country of the rise of the Muslim
Brotherhood. The Brotherhood seeks to create an Islamic caliphate.
Both Hamas and al-Qaida are Brotherhood offshoots.
On Monday, former International Atomic Energy Agency chief
Mohamed ElBaradei, who had previously announced his intentions to
run for the presidency of Egypt, said "if Israel attacked Gaza we
would declare war against the Zionist regime."
The same day, Egypt's foreign minister said Cairo is ready to re-
establish diplomatic ties with Tehran after a break of more than 30
years, signaling a clear shift in Iran policy since the fall of Mubarak.
"The Egyptian and Iranian people deserve to have mutual relations
reflecting their history and civilization," said Foreign Minister Nabil
Elaraby after meeting with Iranian official Mugtabi Amani.
Days after Mubarak stepped aside, Egypt allowed the passage of two
Iranian warships through the strategic Suez Canal for the first time
since 1979.
Also WND reported last month, the Egyptian military command met
with Hamas to discuss ways to build a better relationship with the
Islamist organization.
Sponsored Link: I don’t want to scare you… But right now, the U.S.
government is doing something incredibly stupid, which could
potentially cause a huge crisis in America, in the next few months.
Watch the full investigative video here...
Courtesy
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