Monday, October 31, 2005

Remembering Suez

On October 29 1956, Israel invaded Egypt, and thus began the Suez Crisis:

On October 29, 1956, Israeli troops invaded Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and quickly overcame opposition as they raced for Suez. The next day, Britain and France, following their part of the script, offered to temporarily occupy the Canal Zone and suggested a 10 mile buffer on either side which would separate the Egyptian forces from the Israelis. Nasser of course refused, and on October 31, Egypt was attacked and invaded by the military forces of Britain and France. In response to these developments, the Soviet Union, which at the time was ruthlessly suppressing an anti-Communist uprising in Hungary, threatened to intervene on Egypt's behalf. President Eisenhower of the United States pressured Britain, France and Israel into agreeing to a cease-fire and eventual withdrawal from Egypt.

France quit NATO, Britain abandoned its empire, and radical Arab nationalism began and continues to this day. Meanwhile Russia was invading Hungary and the Cold War continued. Way to go Ike!