Questions Arise About Egyptian Troops in the Sinai

Reports emerged Jan. 30 suggesting that 100 to 150 Egyptian soldiers had moved into the Sinai Peninsula. Later, reports of as many as 800 soldiers emerged, with the suggestion that this number of troops violated agreements between Egypt and Israel regarding the presence of Egyptian forces in the peninsula. However, there have also been reports that the Egyptian troop movements were carried out in coordination with Israel and even with the United States. However, questions remain about the Egyptian military's motives for deploying the troops, Israel's role in the deployment, and the whereabouts — and fate — of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.