That said, it is known that the US Government was reaching out to "other representatives" in Egypt. It is not inconceivable that some of these might have been introduced to some of Gene Sharp's works. Such contact would more likely have been conducted by spooks working through the Agency for International Development or the State Department. They would likely have been represented as business development consultants, etc. Whether this involved Sharp or the AEI I have no idea.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."