WikiLeaks: Israel's secret hotline to the man tipped to replace Mubarak

[Joanne98]

Source: The Telegraph

The new vice-president of Egypt, Omar Suleiman, is a long-standing favourite of Israel's who spoke daily to the Tel Aviv government via a secret "hotline" to Cairo, leaked documents disclose.

Mr Suleiman, who is widely tipped to take over from Hosni Mubarak as president, was named as Israel's preferred candidate for the job after discussions with American officials in 2008.

As a key figure working for Middle East peace, he once suggested that Israeli troops would be "welcome" to invade Egypt to stop weapons being smuggled to Hamas terrorists in neighbouring Gaza.

The details, which emerged in secret files obtained by WikiLeaks and passed to The Daily Telegraph, come after Mr Suleiman began talks with opposition groups on the future for Egypt's government.



Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8309792/WikiLeaks-Israels-secret-hotline-to-the-man-tipped-to-replace-Mubarak.html

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[TomClash]

2. I'm shocked

It's so nice to see the US co-opting and deflating the Egyptian Revolution. So nice. :sarcasm:

[Kalun D]

3. If We Weren't Sure Before

We are sure now

Obama is a straight up predatory corporatist

democracy be damned, our multinational fascist corporations make more money when a dictator is in power.

[sofa king]

4. It might not be wise to conflate the U.S. and Israel just yet.

The Israelis have a completely different suite of problems and objectives from those of the U.S. Having faced the prospect of invasion from Egypt three times in the past sixty-five years (and having invaded Egypt twice themselves), that issue probably weighs on the Israelis far more than it does on the United States.

For the U.S., Israel is probably just as much of a problem as all the other neighboring states and nations with a competing "interest" in Egypt's situation.

[earcandle]

5. I disagree. Israel is a powerful lobby in our political system.

And our go to guys in the mideast. 

[cartach]

6. Utter BS ! They're the local US hired warmongers

and are paid big bucks to protect US oil interests and have no interest in ongoing peace in the region. And who pays the price? Innocent people who are considered collateral damage and the US taxpayer.

[earcandle]

7. That too!

[No Elephants]

9. What does any of that have to do with whether Israel and/or the U.S. want Suleiman?

The U.S. and Israel could conceivably want the same guy, even if all their other interests are not idential in every particular and 65 years does not seem like a relevant time period for purposes of who may or may not be favored to succeed Mubarak.

[harun]

8. He's also the CIA's point man for extraordinary rendition to Egypt.