Phares, who will be publishing a new book in March on “how the US and the West lost the Arab Spring’s first years,” said: “to say Egypt is going well with what is happening there will draw questions and to say Egypt’s situation is dire, will draw criticism from many in Washington regarding the partnership with the Muslim Brotherhood. Hence ignoring Egypt may have been the choice of the Administration in the State of the Union.”
Phares added that “the Ikhwan lobby in the West in general and in the US in particular remains very powerful and influential and continue to direct or influence US policy regarding Egypt and parts of the Middle East. Despite the fact that the mother organization in Egypt has been removed from power, its international network is up and running and commands influence throughout the West. It is so, because the Brotherhood influence is deeply rooted in US academia. Profiting from an influx of petrodollars the pro-Ikhwan elite impacted Middle East Studies and by ripple effect the advising body in Washington DC.”
Phares projected that the Ikhwan lobby will force the West to criticize al Sisee even if 40 million Egyptians vote for him in the Presidential election. However Egypt’s elected Parliament will start countering the Brotherhood’s propaganda worldwide. The Egyptian Parliament will play an unexpected role in the future, it will de-legitimize the Ikhwan.”