![]() If anything, the continued presidency of a strongman who oversaw mass killings and other brutal human rights violations fuels recruits to violent movements. Violence continues, including a significant attack against government forces in February. Is Sisi a unique warrior against terrorism? While a concerted military push into the troubled Sinai in 2018 did quiet down the terrorist insurgency (an indigenous group that affiliated to ISIS) a bit, Sisi has no magic formula. needs to give Sisi unconditional backing lest Egypt fall into Russia’s grip. Trump should support Sisi in his bid to stay in power indefinitely, the general’s supporters argue, because he is a visionary uniquely qualified to combat dangerous Islamists, reform Islam, boost women’s rights, fix his country’s ailing economy and promote regional peace with Israel. But our history in the Middle East has shown that we often get these decisions catastrophically wrong. officials often face difficult decisions when trying to balance national security interests with human rights. ![]() ![]() What good, then, can come of supporting Sisi to keep himself in power indefinitely? What harm might it cause? Can the United States remain neutral? As a former policymaker, I know firsthand that U.S. It is Sisi’s attempt to develop a highly personalized form of power for himself and loyal military officers, sidelining other institutions and ending all meaningful accountability-a direct violation of his own promises. To be clear, amending the constitution is not about the security or prosperity of Egypt. If the referendum is similar to Sisi’s second election in 2018, Egyptian voters-demoralized and cowed by years of brutal repression since the 2013 military coup-will largely stay home. The amendments will also give the military a constitutional right to intervene in politics and will tighten his grip over the judiciary. Sisi’s Oval Office photo-op will come just a week or two before Egypt holds a popular referendum on amendments to the constitution that would give Sisi an exception to term limits, allowing him to stay in office until 2034.
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