With Friends Like This: Egypt Sought To Smuggle Over 30,000 RPGs In Violation of North Korean Embargo

We recently discussed the controversy over U.S. taxpayers giving billions to Egypt as that country persecutes homosexuals, including its recent ordering of anal examinations of suspected gay men.  Now a new report indicates that the United States suspended aid temporarily when it learned that the Egyptian government was knowingly circumventing international trade bans with North Korea.  While North Korea was threatening the world with nuclear war and specifically targeting the United States, our “ally” was secretly trying to pay North Korea $23 million for over 30,000 rocket-propelled grenades.

U.S. intelligence learned of the smuggling operation run by Egyptian operatives. They arranged for the bordering of an old freighter flying Cambodian colors on its course toward the Suez Canal.  The rocket-propelled grenades were found under bins of iron ore in an obvious concealment effort.  The Egyptians not only undermined U.S. efforts but participated in what the United Nations is calling the “largest seizure of ammunition in the history of sanctions.”

The Egyptians immediately claimed to have cooperated with the operation but U.S. officials say that Egypt was behind the efforts to pay North Korea for weapons — money that could be used in its nuclear program targeting United States (which in turn is giving huge amounts to Egypt in foreign aid).