Sun Sets on British Empire at Suez

The Suez crisis of 1956 refers to the invasion of Egypt by the combined armies of Britain, France and Israel with the declared intent of seizing the Canal Zone.  In the deadly game of real politic where power is the arbitrator of justice, the Egyptian defenses were found wanting against the combined onslaught of the invading armies. But Egypt won the political battle when the Eisenhower Administration of the United States forced the invaders to withdraw. The political triumph heralded the heyday for Arab nationalism and propelled Nasser as a hero of the Arab world. The euphoria was short lived and lasted only until the devastating defeat of the Arab armies by Israel in the war of June 1967.