Trump does love his dictators and military hard men, especially ones with atrocious human rights records. Today he welcomes President al-Sisi of Egypt, whom Obama barred from the White House because of the brutal repression that followed the coup that brought him to power in 2013. His regime is holding between 40,000 and 60,000 political prisoners, including thousands of secular liberal democrats. His security forces have been responsible for extrajudicial killings and 912 disappearances. Eighty-five civil society activists have been banned from leaving the country and dozens of journalists are being held without trial.
Trump’s theory is that al-Sisi is a major ally in the fight against terrorism yet his regime has made Egypt a mass-production facility for violent extremism. Terrorist incidents have increased dramatically, since he took power. He supports al-Assad in Syria, and has offered unqualified endorsement of Russia’s increasing military presence throughout the Middle East. He gets $1 billion a year from the USA and yet his state-controlled media is filled with anti-Western diatribes; and Americans working in Egypt, and Egyptians who work with Western organizations, have faced trumped-up charges under harsh laws criminalizing contacts between Egyptians and foreigners.
Trump has two Egyptian registered property companies, perhaps why it was left off the selective travel ban despite having high levels of violence. Ditto Turkey.
Al-Sisi, born 19 Nov 1954, has a fearsome chart with Pluto in Leo opposition Mars in Aquarius square a Scorpio Sun Venus; with Saturn Mercury also in Scorpio, so his chart certainly matches his words and deeds. His Pluto is conjunct Trump’s Mars and Ascendant which doers suggest the possibility of a major clash at some point. Admittedly their relationship chart has an enthusiastic, supportive composite Sun Jupiter Mercury conjunction; but there’s also a composite Mars square Pluto.
It’ll cool in the July to October period this year with tr Saturn square the composite Venus; with a deal of confusion from tr Pluto square the composite Neptune at the same time.
The USA/Egypt relationship chart is on a winding path this year, with more warmth from tr Pluto trine the composite Venus Sun; but also aggravation in Sept/Oct from tr Pluto trine Mars; and relations are very disrupted from 2018 to 2021.
Al-Sisi’s Presidency chart, 8 June 2014 11.18am is less than stable at the moment with the Solar Arc Pluto square Uranus. Though like Zuma’s Presidency chart in South Africa, it does have Jupiter tied into a wide Cardinal Grand Cross, so will survive close scrapes better than it deserves. Where it starts to sag badly is in 2019/2020 with tr Neptune square the Gemini Sun.
Thanks Marjorie.
The Obamas Jan 21 post
You may already have done a post-Presidency write up on Mr and Mrs Obama. If so, what is the reference. If not, please would you post on them, especially Mrs Obama.
Also, very many thanks for your post on Lee Radziwill. It confirms a story she tells of when, at 11 years old, she found herself alone once again in their great big house, with only her dog for company. She decided she needed a friend, so took a taxi to an orphanage and told them she was there to adopt an orphan. Sad, but shows initiative and imagination. A shame she was brought up only to marry well.