Though Mubarak’s opposition to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1991 happened to align with US policy, he was unwilling to back other American campaigns against Arab leaders. When President Ronald Reagan’s deputy national security adviser, John Poindexter, asked Mubarak to launch a joint US-Egyptian attack against Libya in 1985, the Egyptian president scolded his visitor, saying, “Look, Admiral, when we decide to attack Libya, it will be our decision and on our timetable.”
虽然穆巴拉克反对伊拉克入侵科威特的行动恰好与美国政策步调一致，但他却不愿意去支持美国反对阿拉伯国家领袖的其他行动。当美国总统罗纳德·里根的国家安全顾问助理约翰·波因德克斯特海军中将要求穆巴拉克与美国在1985年对利比亚发动联合进攻时，埃及总统立刻拉下脸说：“听着，将军阁下，当我们决定要进攻利比亚的时候，必须是我们自己的决定，而且按我们的时间表行事！”