Since the 2011 uprisings that brought down long-time strong man Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian economy has experienced a series of dramatic ups and downs. This has been felt most acutely in the tourism sector, long an engine for growth and stability in the country. With over 25 years in the tourism industry, Amr Badr would know.
Short-Term Gains for Long-Term Losses: The Iraqi Response and US Support to Instability in Iraq
Iraq has largely slipped from the American public’s radar. The ongoing civil war in Syria and negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program have taken precedence, followed by deliberations on the United States’ long-term presence in Afghanistan and ongoing instability in Egypt, Lebanon, and Yemen. Given this country’s recent history with Iraq, the Iraqi government is facing a very different political climate in Washington when it asks for weapons sales, military training, and other US support.