We need to avoid an “agonizing reappraisal of basic United States policy.” Observers of the US-Egypt relationship could do much worse than to read former ambassador Frank Wisner’s recent piece headlined The United States and Egypt: Constant interests require consistent policies in the Cairo Review of Global Affairs, wherein he subtly reminds the Biden administration that “No other Arab platform—not Saudi Arabia, nor the UAE—offers the United States the same potential of partnership which Egypt does. We have developed over the decades strong habits of cooperation with Egypt’s military, intelligence services, diplomacy, government and business and academic communities. These ties matter in the design and execution of policy.”

And on the other side of the Atlantic? “Egypt should think carefully about how contribute to the relationship with the United States. … Egypt has daunting challenges in the years ahead and needs sustained economic growth to provide for the wellbeing of its population. America can be a source of investment, trade and technology, provided Egypt’s policies are conducive.”

(With apologies to the heirs of Mr. John Foster Dulles.)