Egypt

From RationalWiki

Egypt is a state in north-east Africa. Its capital, Cairo, is home to the Pyramids of Giza. While geographically located in Africa, culturally and politically Egypt is considered to be part of the Middle East, in part because of its proximity, and in part because of its large Muslim, Arabic-speaking population. In 1967 Egypt went to war with Israel; in 1978 it became the first state in the region to make peace with Israel and acknowledge its existence with the signing of the Camp David Accords.

Egypt is the birthplace of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and houses the only surviving "Wonder of the Classical World".

The current "president" of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, is actually a fairly benign autocrat, though he does have the rather nasty habit of locking up political rivals. The United States tends to turn a blind eye to this behavior since said rivals tend to be Islamic nationalists, such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt receives a great deal of American aid, mostly because the Americans see Mubarak as a "moderate" in a region full of extremists, and because Egypt is one of the few Middle Eastern nations to have recognized Israel's right to exist (though the main journalists' organization, as well as Egyptian Writers' Guild and Actors' Guild have forbidden their members to work in Israel). Moreover, the aid is in part the price of Egypt's continued recognition of and peace with Israel.

Egypt is also a town in Maine. Little Egypt is an alternative name for southern Illinois, where several towns took their names from towns in the country of Egypt.