Egypt - Just Say No

Egypt sentenced journalists to 7 years in jail

Despite lacking any evidentiary trail.

Claimed that they were working for the Muslim Brotherhood.

We'd planned on resuming aid; now, I don't think we should.

To be fair, I didn't think we should have anyway.

These men aren't the first the government has locked away.

Al Jazeera's journalists may have to serve some time;

Hundreds of Egyptians received death for the same crime.

General el-Sisi, who is now the President,

Isn't someone we should send a single, U.S. cent...

Led the revolution, seizing power in a coup,

Calling for the deaths of leaders that he overthrew.

Journalists are under threat and so there's no free press.

Why on earth would we go wading in to such a mess?

Egypt's military's doing fine without our aid.

If we really want to help we ought to foster trade.

Middle East Update - Bad Timing for a Visit

Secretary Kerry doesn't seem to be enjoying himself on this trip.  (Photo/Presstv.ir)

Secretary Kerry has been in the Middle East;

Pretty awkward timing for his trip - to say the least.

Many of our "allies" in the region aren't thrilled

With our current policies and so relations chilled.

Kerry went to Cairo first; he'd not been in a while.

Next day, Egypt put its former President on trial.

Military overthrew his government and now

Claims that it was not a coup...  But I cannot see how.

Even though it's clear from all the evidence we've got,

State Department hasn't said if it's a coup or not.

U.S. law forbids assistance to a government

Which has come to power through a coup. The law is meant

To promote democracy, so now we're kinda stuck...

'though we'll send them aid, their military's out of luck.

Kerry went to see the Saudis next; they're also mad.

Feel the U.S. backed out on agreements that we had.

They've turned down a Council Seat 'cause we did not attack

Weapons sites in Syria...  Ain't chutzpah that they lack.

Any place where radicals are bred goes back to them;

They're the ones who fund those mosques and schools (which costs a gem.)

Now they're scared those angry chickens may come home to roost...

Here's an idea for you; just stop giving them a boost.

I wish Secretary Kerry luck - which he will need -

'cause the only thing on which the region has agreed

Is that the United States is, somehow, all to blame...

I guess it is comforting that some things stay the same.

Egypt - Call Me Cassandra

The Egyptian military has imposed a month long State of Emergency following yesterday's massacre of pro-Morsi demonstrators. (Photo/TheSaint41.com)

6 weeks after Egypt's coup, cops fired on the crowd

Saying Muslim Brotherhood protesters weren't allowed

To continue demonstrating out in Cairo's streets.

Now, instead, the city's filled with corpses under sheets.

Islamists felt victimized and took it to the square

(It's become the custom to hold demonstrations there)

Said it's illegitimate to overthrow a man

Just because you disagree... Only elections can.

Seems to me they had a point and, 'though I don't agree

With the Muslim Brotherhood, elections there were free.

Thousands wounded, hundreds dead, Vice President resigned

And the former President's still very hard to find.

There will be no compromises now - Not after this.

Population's fracturing.  The cracks are hard to miss.

Now, with mounting bloodshed, Egypt's in a downward spin.

It's a situation where America can't win.

Egypt - When is a Coup Not a Coup?

The riddle of the Sphinx -When is a coup not a coup?

I go on vacation - the Egyptians have a coup...

Not the 1st time this has happened, either. This makes 2.

Last time that it happened Morsi led one of his own.

This time it was him the military's overthrown.

No one's seen the President. The Muslim Brotherhood's

Started leading protests throughout Egypt's neighborhoods.

They say they're prepared to die if Morsi's not restored.

Civil war is one thing that Egyptians can't afford.

Neither can America 'cause Egypt is the key;

Central to the Middle East throughout its history.

Which is why we're being careful - watching what we say.

U.S. law is black and white but Egypt's shades of gray.

We are not allowed to give a country foreign aid

If there's been a military coup.  Bills don't get paid.

Egypt wants another chance to get its problems solved;

Thus, we've called it something else so we can stay involved.