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Africa North
Egypt plans to send delegation to US
2012-01-29
WASHINGTON: A Egyptian military team plans to visit the United States next week as CairoÂ’s crackdown on pro-democracy organizations has called into question the future of US aid to Egypt, American officials said on Friday.
Really, there should be no question about it...
The Egyptian delegation hopes to meet with officials at the State Department and the Pentagon. It will also hold talks on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers will soon consider a new request for aid to EgyptÂ’s military, which now runs about $1.3 billion per year, one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
They're holding Americans for hostage, essentially. Now they're asking for 'aid'.
The Egyptian visit comes after EgyptÂ’s military-led authorities pounced on non-governmental organizations, including several funded by the US government, and slapped travel bans on six American staffers including a son of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former congressman.

Political analysts say the crackdown, along with questions over EgyptÂ’s emergency law and security forcesÂ’ treatment of women protesters, has clouded the outlook for EgyptÂ’s fledgling democracy following last yearÂ’s overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said American officials were pressing Egyptian authorities on the crackdown, which she described as “bizarre.” The Americans have demanded that Egypt lift travel restrictions placed on a number of foreign NGO staffers.

“We do not have progress since yesterday, I am sorry to report,” Nuland said.

“The assertions of the Egyptian government in these cases are that they are subject to a judicial process which is not complete,” Nuland said. “Our message back is, ‘Complete these formalities and let our people travel as soon as possible.’“
That's diplospeak for "put them on the next plane to Washington and explain to us why you grabbed them in the first place."
Other political sources said the Egyptians were expected to discuss the NGO issue on Capitol Hill, where a number of senators have warned the Egyptians that US aid was at stake if action against the NGOs continues.

“Continued restriction of their activities and harassment of international and Egyptian staff will be looked at with great concern, particularly in light of Egypt’s considerable US assistance,” 11 senators said in a letter to Egyptian Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi dated Jan. 18.

President Barack Obama spoke with Tantawi on Jan. 20 and stressed the importance of the NGOs, as well as EgyptÂ’s deteriorating economic situation and its request for $3.2 billion in support from the International Monetary Fund.

The Obama administration is finalizing its budget for the 2013 fiscal year, which will be presented on Feb. 13 and is expected to include continued assistance for EgyptÂ’s military.

Lawmakers imposed conditions on the US assistance given in 2012, requiring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to certify that the Egyptian government is supporting the transition to a civilian government. That includes holding free and fair elections and implementing policies to protect freedom of expression, association, and religion, and due process of law. Clinton can waive this if it is in US national security interests, but must notify Congress that she has done so.

“Those are decisions that are going to have to be made later on in the winter and spring,” Nuland said. “These are points that we’re obviously making clear to the Egyptians.”
Not one chance of Hilde certifying the aid if the NGO members are still being held hostage. It's a gold political campaign opportunity that even Mitt Romney couldn't screw up.
Posted by:Steve White

#2  We sent funds to Pakistan for years. Its believed it freed up billions for them to give to islamists like the Taliban to blow up girl schools and kidnap Koreans.....
Posted by: CrazyFool   2012-01-29 06:19  

#1  Isn't the military aid part of the Jimmy Carter deal contingent on Egypt's recognition and friendly relations with Israel? Continuing to pay that bill now that the Muslim Brotherhood is in charge seems as silly as sending a check to Hamas and whatever we are suriely paying NK to not do what they have committed to do.
Posted by: Super Hose   2012-01-29 01:47  

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