Kirk: Islamic Fundamentalists May Take Over In Egypt
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) says the U.S. may have gained an ally in Libya, but may also have paved the way for an Islamic Fundamentalist government in Egypt following popular uprisings the U.S. supported in the Arab spring.
As WBBM Newsradio's John Cody reports, Kirk is a member of the Senate Subcommittee on foreign operations, and also serves as a Commander in the U.S. Naval reserve.
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Kirk says many Libyans believe Americans were flying all the planes in the battle with Muammar Qaddafi, even though many were from NATO Countries. Kirk believes the next Libyan government will be sympathetic to the U.S.
But Kirk says he's concerned about Egypt, where a totally new parliament is being elected.
"All seats are on the table, meaning that we could have a Muslim Brotherhood majority by next April. That would be a significant foreign policy debate for the United States," he said.
Kirk also said he opposes the U.S. military venture into Uganda in pursuit of Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army. The LRA has turned into a brutally vicious force, terrorizing rural residents while eluding government troops for years.
"Also, there's a substantial effort underway, separate from the U.S. government, to defeat the Lord's Resistance Army, so I actually don't know what the value is of a U.S. military commitment, and I think that we have three conflicts ongoing as it is, and that's enough," he said.
Kirk says the U.S. has no strategic interest in the Ugandan government, and there is no reason for the U.S. to get involved.