اقرأ باللغة العربية In the face of the current wave of regional and global terrorism, Egypt has developed a coherent vision to deal with this unprecedented situation in the Middle East that represents a real existential threat to its countries, especially those created after the Sykes-Picot Agreement a century ago. The view of the Egyptian state today is based on the inevitability of stern confrontation with trans-national terrorist groups using a large variety of weapons of deterrence. The power of these groups and militias that have spread across the Middle East over the past six years as major countries in the region teeter and fragment in full view of the major world powers must be broken. A united global stand against terrorism is one of Egypt's key demands that have often been expressed on the world stage, and Cairo has not spared any effort in informing the world about the dangers of the ongoing terrorist onslaught even if the world has not paid sufficient attention until it has been too late. Egypt has resorted to fiercely defending its borders to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists who have Egypt in their crosshairs as part of a strategy to change the status quo in the region and impose the dominance of Political Islam on the Arab scene. Egypt today is formulating its vision of the situation more clearly after it presented evidence of the dangers of double standards by some regional governments. However, a clear Egyptian vision on combating terrorism may not be enough in itself to correct the dismal conditions in the Middle East. The machinations on the global stage are countless. There has been a lack of close monitoring of funding to radical groups in many Arab countries, and this raises questions about how serious the West is about confronting the dangers knocking on its door. There is plenty of information available to Western intelligence agencies about those involved in terrorist funding, but Western governments have largely disregarded their responsibility to their people by protecting their homelands and their lives. Terrorist attacks in the West have failed to alter policies that still view Political Islam groups as temporary allies or friends that can be manipulated to serve Western interests when necessary. Egypt understands that the region is experiencing fast-paced changes that impact on its security and require the highest state of readiness. The Egyptian military has accordingly built the Mohamed Naguib Base at Al-Hammam and the Barrani Base in the Western Military Zone that were inaugurated last week. It has also upgraded administrative operations for the infantry and armoured units of the second and third armies. These actions are part of continued efforts by the country's Armed Forces to improve their combat capabilities on all strategic fronts. The Mohamed Naguib Base is strategically important in this region of vital targets that require military forces capable of blocking and destroying any possible hostilities because of their advanced modern technological capabilities, weapons and equipment. Such facilities confirm that existing threats must be confronted with firm deterrence, including military readiness that is greater than the conventional warfare capabilities of the past. The required types of deterrence today include a comprehensive view of the existing threats, such as deterrence on the home front by curtailing extremism, preventing the recruitment of new members by terrorist groups, and revising religious rhetoric. There is also deterrence based on military might and enhancing the capabilities of the Armed Forces, since armed militias beyond the control of the state have changed the balance of power in many Arab countries and represent direct threats to the stability and even continuing existence of these countries. There is also deterrence through diplomacy by revealing the means of funding of these terrorist groups to the international community and foiling the satanic game that allows these savage groups to receive more funds and weapons. Egypt has put forward an important vision through its institutions of how to deter the forces of terrorism and work hard to rally the international community behind its vision before matters become yet more complicated in the Middle East.
