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| Africa North | ||
| Scramble to Deal for 16 Americans in Egypt | ||
| 2012-02-26 | ||
CAIRO — American diplomats scrambled on Saturday to work out a deal to resolve the criminal charges against 16 Americans here on the eve of their scheduled trial in a case that has threatened to upend the 30-year alliance with Egypt. As late as Saturday evening, United States officials said they still could not predict what would happen when the trial opens Sunday.
The 16 Americans and 27 others face criminal charges of working for unlicensed nonprofit groups and accepting foreign money to operate them. Nine of the Americans were outside Egypt when the charges were filed, and Egypt has barred the remaining seven, including the son of the United States secretary of transportation, from leaving. The seven Americans work for a pair of federally financed nonprofit groups with close ties to the Congressional leadership, the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute, which are chartered to promote democracy abroad. In court papers, Egyptian prosecutors accuse the groups of collaborating with the Central Intelligence Agency in a campaign to destabilize Egypt and manipulate its revolution for the benefit of the United States and Israel. If convicted, the accused face a fine and up to six years in prison for working for unlicensed nonprofit groups, and a minimum of six years for receiving money from abroad. As of Saturday, the seven Americans in Egypt had taken refuge in the United States Embassy for fear of arrest, officials said. American officials dismiss Egypt’s allegations of subversive aims as political grandstanding playing to domestic anti-American sentiment. The officials say it is implausible that the United States would give about $15 million a year to have the two groups undermine the Egyptian state when it spends $1.3 billion a year to support the Egyptian military. There is no dispute that the two groups and their staffs have broken the letter of Egyptian law. Both groups sought, but never received, licenses from the Egyptian government, and both are openly financed from abroad. They therefore violate two restrictions on civil groups left over from government of Hosni Mubarak, the strongman president who was deposed a year ago. But both groups have been tolerated here for years, along with scores of Egyptian nonprofit groups that also break both rules. American officials say that they increased financing for the groups after Mr. Mubarak’s ouster on the presumption that the restrictions would be lifted, as the Mubarak government had pledged to do as recently as two years ago. Instead, an Egyptian cabinet official held over from the Mubarak government, Fayza Abul Naga, initiated a criminal investigation that has applied the old rules with new vigor. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton raised the matter twice with the Egyptian foreign minister, Mohamed Amr, in London on Thursday and again in Tunis on Friday, officials said. Last week, Senator John McCain, the chairman of the International Republican Institute, left a meeting in Cairo with Egypt’s top military rulers assured that a resolution was close at hand, people briefed on the meeting said. But the case has continued to move forward, and the American threats to cut off aid have set off a new wave of Egyptian nationalism. American officials say they are seeking some kind of resolution that might free the seven Americans trapped here while saving face for the Egyptian authorities. Egyptian lawyers have suggested that the security agencies responsible for overseeing nonprofit groups could grant licenses to the American groups, signaling to the presiding judge that their activities were not threatening and light sentences would be in order. The National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute — headed in Egypt by Sam LaHood, the son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood — are best known here for offering seminars and training programs to candidates and political parties preparing to run in elections. United States law forbids the groups from seeking to influence political results in the countries where they operate, and many people who have worked with the groups say that Egyptians across the political spectrum have taken advantage of their programs. | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #9 Now I ask you, who do you think this organization actually reports to? Yes, you are correct. The International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute are center-left organizations, are nominally tied to the respective political parties, but have separate 'missions'. They do not "report" to the parties. Well, they're our citizens, to be sure, but they are in the service of the worst kind of internationalist UN/NGO types. The charters of both NGOs are granted to them by the US Gov't. Essentially they took over the "winning hearts and minds" duties that the CIA once held. They're totally guilty of doing exactly what they're accused of doing. Meddling in the internal politics of a foreign country. How do you feel about Tiananmen Square? American officials dismiss EgyptÂ’s allegations of subversive aims as political grandstanding playing to domestic anti-American sentiment. Partly that, but mostly it was because the NGOs were working with the secular parties; something the current junta did not want. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2012-02-26 16:55 |
| #8 American diplomats, Egyptian lawyers and others involved in the case said the efforts had foundered amid a breakdown in the lines of authority....... Damn those Lines of Authority! |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2012-02-26 10:02 |
| #7 Now I ask you, who do you think this organization actually reports to? Yes, you are correct. General Info The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs is a nonprofit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide. Calling on a global network of volunteer experts, NDI provides practical assistance to civic and political leaders advancing democratic values, practices and institutions. NDI works with democrats in every region of the world to build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and to promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. It undertakes a wide range of programs, including democratic governance, political party development, citizen participation, and information and communications technology. Headquartered in Washington D.C., The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs has locations throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and Middle East. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-02-26 08:12 |
| #6 Well, they're our citizens, to be sure, but they are in the service of the worst kind of internationalist UN/NGO types. They're totally guilty of doing exactly what they're accused of doing. Meddling in the internal politics of a foreign country. I wonder if any of the arrested even has any idea why that's a bad thing. |
| Posted by: gromky 2012-02-26 05:44 |
| #5 But the case has continued to move forward, and the American threats to cut off aid have set off a new wave of Egyptian nationalism. We'll, we'll, we'll take away your candy!!! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-02-26 05:19 |
#4 Offer Waterworks and the Electric Company. Give them two railroads instead if they bargain hard.
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| Posted by: Super Hose 2012-02-26 03:40 |
| #3 Jimmuh Carter V2.0 |
| Posted by: Frank G 2012-02-26 00:25 |
| #2 "including the son of the United States secretary of transportation" This is the only reason the Bambi Administration gives a rat's behind. Cynical? Who, me? :-( |
| Posted by: Barbara 2012-02-26 00:16 |
| #1 POTUS has FAILED. Those are OUR Citizens. Do you understand, Obama? No, you do not. You useless little pest. |
| Posted by: newc 2012-02-26 00:09 |