After the apparent triumph in bringing Libya in from the cold comes a disturbing indication that the axis of terror may be expanding in another direction. Iran and Egypt are apparently moving towards patching up the rift between them that occurred after Egypt made peace with Israel in 1978. The advantage to Iran -- at the very centre of the terror industry -- in seeking to end the stand-off with Egypt is obvious. Iran is trying to forge closer links with all its Arab neighbours, a strategy that should ring further loud alarm bells in the west. But Egypt's motives, given it is supposed to be well-disposed towards the United States, are more ambiguous. The Americans appear to think this particular cup is half-full rather than half empty:

'A U.S. official cautiously welcomed the idea of a rapprochement, suggesting a U.S. ally like Egypt could help nudge Iran to take actions Washington wants to see as well as provide another window on Tehran. "We're so well established in playing the bad cop (with Iran) that it always helps to have good cops," said the official, who asked not to be named. "If they can play the good cop, that leaves us free to play the bad cop but also to have the benefit of hearing what the Iranians have to say." '

Hmmn. A tad optimistic, surely, given the fact that despite the peace treaty with Israel, Egypt is not a 'good cop' at all but a major purveyor of antisemitic libels and incitement to hatred; and it also does nothing to prevent the steady supply or arms smuggled in from Egypt into Gaza to arm Palestinian terror. Reported remarks by its foreign minister, Ahmad Maher, merely confirm such deepening unease:

'Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher said in Cairo on Sunday that Cairo considers the issue of Camp David as belonging to the past, stressing that Egypt is now eager to promote ties with the Islamic Republic, IRNA reported. Maher, in an interview with IRNA and the Central News Bureau, said Egypt considers the case of the Camp David Accords as closed, stressing that the interest of Tehran and Cairo today is in the promotion of mutual cooperation.

"I don't think using the issue of Camp David will be useful, because it does not exist anymore and is merely a thing of the past," he said. "There have been many changes and I believe that this case between Iran and Egypt has already been closed... What exists now is the interest of Iran and Egypt to work with each other."

'...Maher highlighted the need for Iran and Egypt to struggle together for the establishment of justice in the occupied territories of Palestine, and for promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. "Therefore, there is no reason to stop because of what does not exist anymore and has become part of the past," he said. "What is important is that we will continue our assistance to Palestine and we know that Iran will also help the Palestinian people."

Isn't it time to rethink the assumption that Egypt is on our side?