Is it the end for U.S. military aid to Egypt ?

[agentny17]

(Reuters) - The White House said on Monday that an Egyptian crackdown on pro-democracy non-governmental groups that has enmeshed a number of U.S. citizens could threaten the country's $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.

Nineteen Americans are among 40 foreign and Egyptian activists whose cases have been referred to criminal court by the country's army-backed government. A number of the U.S. citizens involved have sought refuge in the American embassy.

"These actions could have consequences for our relationship and for our assistance programs," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters.

The row has strained ties between Cairo and Washington, which backed the overthrow last year of Egypt's longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak, upon whom it relied for decades to uphold a peace treaty with Israel vital to U.S. strategy in the Middle East.

"We continue to communicate at all levels with the Egyptian government our grave concerns regarding the crackdown against NGOs," Carney told a news briefing, adding that the individuals "have done nothing wrong. Their only assignment is to support Egypt in its transition to democracy."

Egyptian authorities say the NGOs broke the law by accepting foreign funds without government approval.

Several U.S. citizens and others involved in the probe have been barred from leaving Egypt. They include Sam LaHood, the country director of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

"Many of these groups have worked in Egypt for several years, and so their activities are not new. Moreover, they also served as observers for the recent parliamentary elections at the request of the government of Egypt," Carney said.

(Reporting By Laura MacInnis and Alister Bull; Editing by Bill Trott)

Egyptian NGO crackdown could impact U.S. aid: White House | Reuters

---------- Post added at 05:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:32 PM ----------

U.S. working 'at every level' to resolve NGO dispute with EgyptBy the CNN Wire Staff
updated 3:03 PM EST, Mon February 6, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
U.S. officials warn Egypt that aid could suffer if NGO campaign continues
Egyptian authorities announced plans Sunday to prosecute 43 people accused of illegal funding
That includes 19 Americans, some of whom are taking refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo
U.S. officials engaging Egyptian counterparts "at every level," White House spokesman says
Washington (CNN) -- U.S. aid to Egypt could suffer if Egypt persists in prosecuting 43 people, including 19 Americans, in a crackdown on nongovernmental organizations, White House and State Department officials said Monday.

"We have underscored how serious a problem these actions are. We have said clearly that these actions could have consequences for our relationship, including regarding our assistance programs," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland reiterated the message moments later in a separate briefing. She declined to speculate about possible consequences but said the dispute "is a very, very difficult situation in terms of the support we want to provide Egypt."

Egyptian authorities carried out 17 raids on the offices of 10 NGOs in December. A spokesman with the general prosecutor's office said the raids were part of an investigation into allegations that the groups had received illegal foreign financing and were operating without a proper license.

Three U.S.-based organizations were part of the raids.

Among the 19 Americans referred to a court for prosecution is Sam LaHood, International Republican Institute country director and the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, according to Adel Saeed, a spokesman for the general prosecutor.

Some of those facing charges have taken shelter at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Nuland said.

"The number has grown slightly," she said, declining to provide additional details.

The groups targeted have operated in Egypt for years, and none funded candidates or parties, Nuland said.

"There is nothing new in their activities," she said.

President Barack Obama has spoken to Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, head of Egypt's ruling military council, about the issue, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson have also spoken with high-ranking Egyptian officials to voice their concern, U.S. officials have said.

"You can be sure we are engaging with the Egyptian government on this issue at every level," Carney said Monday.

In a February 2 letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Panetta, 41 members of Congress urged the administration to withhold further aid to Egypt until the country's leadership lets the offices of those organizations reopen and returns seized property.

The United States sends more than $1.3 billion each year in military aid to Egypt, according to the U.S. State Department. Since 1975, the U.S. Agency for International Development has provided more than $28 billion in economic and development assistance to the country.
U.S. working 'at every level' to resolve NGO dispute with Egypt - CNN.com

 

[agentny17]

And here it begins.....

 

[Pakistanisage]

Trust me my friend, all countries are better off without US Aid. Islamic countries should develop their own Economy and plan to be self sufficient. This aid business compromises sovereignty and makes us dependent on foreign aid like a drug addict who needs a fix and cannot function normally.

 

[agentny17]

Trust me my friend, all countries are better off without US Aid. Islamic countries should develop their own Economy and plan to be self sufficient. This aid business compromises sovereignty and makes us dependent on foreign aid like a drug addict who needs a fix and cannot function normally.

I agree with everything you just said.... Almost all Egyptians reject such aid out of National/Islamic pride, but its not that easy economic wise. I am very surprised with the Egyptian government stance thu, unless they actually want the US to cut such aid.

 

[agentny17]

Egyptians cancel meetings with U.S. lawmakers after aid warnings

(Reuters) - An Egyptian military delegation abruptly cancelled its meetings with U.S. lawmakers to return to Cairo on Monday after warnings from both Congress and the White House that Egypt's crackdown on non-governmental groups could threaten its $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.

A spokesman for the Egyptian Embassy confirmed that the delegation had cancelled its meetings this week with U.S. lawmakers, but gave no reason.

Last week, the Egyptian army delegation met State Department officials who outlined both the U.S. position on the pro-democracy non-governmental groups and the new conditions that Congress recently imposed on American military assistance.

Nineteen Americans are among 40 foreign and Egyptian activists whose cases have been referred to criminal court by Egypt's army-backed government. A number of the U.S. citizens involved have sought refuge in the American Embassy.

The resulting dispute has strained ties between Cairo and Washington, which backed the overthrow last year of Egypt's longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak, upon whom it relied for decades to uphold a peace treaty with Israel vital to U.S. strategy in the Middle East.

The Egyptian delegation had been scheduled to see Senators Carl Levin and John McCain, the Democratic chairman and ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, among others in Congress this week.

Senate aides said they did not know why the meetings were cancelled.

The U.S. senator who wrote the conditions placed on U.S. military aid to Egypt this year warned that "things will be a lot worse" for Egypt when Congress makes aid decisions for 2013 if Cairo does not demonstrate a commitment to democracy.

Senator Patrick Leahy, Democratic chairman of the Senate foreign aid subcommittee, suggested that he would not favor continuing U.S. military aid to Egypt, even with conditions, if it continued its crackdown on local and U.S.-funded pro-democracy groups.

"I'm not going to ... say, keep on funding this, funding money that reflects the assumption that they are committed to democracy, if they are not," Leahy told Reuters at the Senate.

"If they think I took a strong stand this year - if things don't improve, next year will be a lot worse," he said.

The White House said earlier on Monday that the Egyptian crackdown on pro-democracy non-governmental groups could threaten the country's $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.

"These actions could have consequences for our relationship and for our assistance programs," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters.

LEAHY'S CONDITIONS

Under the conditions written into the fiscal 2012 spending bill that Congress passed in December, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton must certify that Egypt's military-led authorities are meeting benchmarked steps toward democratic reform before the $1.3 billion in military aid -- the usual amount Washington has provided in recent years -- is released in fiscal 2012.

The conditions say that Clinton must certify that Egypt is "holding free and fair elections; implementing policies to protect freedom of expression, association, and religion, and due process of law."

Leahy said he had to "really fight the administration" of President Barack Obama, a fellow Democrat, to get those conditions placed on the aid for fiscal 2012, which began last October and ends September 1.

"Now everybody is glad it was done that way because it gives us, to the extent we have any leverage, that's where the leverage is," Leahy told Reuters.

At the White House, Carney said the administration continued to communicate to the Egyptian government its "grave concerns" about the crackdown on pro-democracy groups.

The individuals involved "have done nothing wrong. Their only assignment is to support Egypt in its transition to democracy."

Egyptian authorities say the NGOs broke the law by accepting foreign funds without government approval.

Several U.S. citizens and others involved have been barred from leaving Egypt. They include Sam LaHood, the country director of the International Republican Institute and the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

"Many of these groups have worked in Egypt for several years, and so their activities are not new. Moreover, they also served as observers for the recent parliamentary elections at the request of the government of Egypt," Carney said.

(Reporting By Laura MacInnis, Alister Bull and Andrew Quinn; Editing by Bill Trott)


Egyptians cancel meetings with U.S. lawmakers after aid warnings | Reuters

 

[Al Bhatti]

February 3, 2012

Can Egypt Avoid Pakistan’s Fate?

ONE year after the revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian military is closing down civil society organizations and trying to manipulate the constitution-writing process to serve its narrow interests. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, where the military has also held sway for more than half the country’s existence — for much of that time, with America’s blessing — a new civil-military crisis is brewing.

For the United States, the parallels are clear and painful. Egypt and Pakistan are populous Muslim-majority nations in conflict-ridden regions, and both have long been allies and recipients of extensive military and economic aid.

Historically, American aid tapers off in Pakistan whenever civilians come to power. And in Egypt, Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama both resisted pressure from Congress to cut aid to Mr. Mubarak despite his repression of peaceful dissidents.

It is no wonder that both Egyptians and Pakistanis express more anger than appreciation toward the United States. They have seen Washington turn a blind eye to human-rights abuses and antidemocratic practices because of a desire to pursue regional objectives — Israeli security in the case of Egypt, and fighting Al Qaeda in the case of Pakistan.

The question now is whether the United States will, a year after the Egyptian revolution, stand by and allow the Pakistani model of military dominance and a hobbled civilian government to be replicated on the Nile.

Pakistan and Egypt each have powerful intelligence and internal security agencies that have acquired extra-legal powers they will not relinquish easily. Pakistan’s history of fomenting insurgencies in neighboring countries has caused serious problems for the United States. And Egypt’s internal security forces have been accused of involvement in domestic terrorist attacks and sectarian violence. (However, Washington has long seen Egypt’s military as a stabilizing force that keeps the peace with Israel.)

The danger is that in the future, without accountability to elected civilian authorities, the Egyptian military and security services will seek to increase their power by manipulating Islamic extremist organizations in volatile and strategically sensitive areas like the Sinai Peninsula.

Despite the security forces’ constant meddling in politics, Pakistan at least has a Constitution that establishes civilian supremacy over the military. Alarmingly, Egypt’s army is seeking even greater influence than what Pakistan’s top brass now enjoys: an explicit political role, and freedom from civilian oversight enshrined in law.

Egypt’s army was once considered heroic for siding with peaceful demonstrators against Mr. Mubarak, but it has badly mishandled the country in the past year. The riot at a soccer match on Wednesday that killed around 70 people underscored the leadership’s failure to undertake badly needed police reform and restore security. The economy is teetering, peaceful demonstrators have been tried in military courts, anti-Christian violence has spiked and ministers appointed by the military have hounded civil society groups that advocate government accountability, budget transparency, human rights and free elections.

A dismayed Congress has attached conditions to future military assistance to Egypt (now $1.3 billion a year), requiring the Obama administration to certify that the military government is maintaining peace with Israel, allowing a transition to civilian rule and protecting basic freedoms — or to waive the conditions on national security grounds — if it wants to keep aid flowing.

The Egyptian military is clearly not meeting at least two of those three conditions right now. Consequently, the Obama administration should not certify compliance, nor should it invoke the national security waiver by arguing that Egyptian-Israeli peace is paramount and that Egypt’s military is the only bulwark against Islamist domination of the country — because both of these arguments are deeply flawed.

First, hardly anyone in Egypt favors war with Israel, and a freeze or suspension of American aid would not change that. Second, continuing support to an Egyptian military that is bent on hobbling a liberal civil society would only strengthen Islamist domination. Islamist groups won some 70 percent of seats in the recent parliamentary elections, but they will now face tremendous pressure to solve the deep economic and political problems that caused the revolution.

In Egypt, as in Pakistan, the ultimate solution is a peaceful transfer of power to elected, accountable civilians and the removal of the military’s overt and covert influence from the political scene. At a minimum, Egypt should establish the clear supremacy of the civilian government over the military and allow an unfettered civil society to flourish.

Washington should suspend military assistance to Egypt until those conditions are met. Taking that difficult step now could help Egypt avoid decades of the violence, terrorism and cloak-and-dagger politics that continue to plague Pakistan.

Michele Dunne, a former White House and State Department official, and Shuja Nawaz, the author of “Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within,” are the directors of the Middle East and South Asia centers, respectively, at The Atlantic Council.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/opinion/can-egypt-avoid-pakistans-fate.html

 

[Al Bhatti]

February 3, 2012

Can Egypt Avoid Pakistan’s Fate?

ONE year after the revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian military is closing down civil society organizations and trying to manipulate the constitution-writing process to serve its narrow interests. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, where the military has also held sway for more than half the country’s existence — for much of that time, with America’s blessing — a new civil-military crisis is brewing.

For the United States, the parallels are clear and painful. Egypt and Pakistan are populous Muslim-majority nations in conflict-ridden regions, and both have long been allies and recipients of extensive military and economic aid.

Historically, American aid tapers off in Pakistan whenever civilians come to power. And in Egypt, Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama both resisted pressure from Congress to cut aid to Mr. Mubarak despite his repression of peaceful dissidents.

It is no wonder that both Egyptians and Pakistanis express more anger than appreciation toward the United States. They have seen Washington turn a blind eye to human-rights abuses and antidemocratic practices because of a desire to pursue regional objectives — Israeli security in the case of Egypt, and fighting Al Qaeda in the case of Pakistan.

The question now is whether the United States will, a year after the Egyptian revolution, stand by and allow the Pakistani model of military dominance and a hobbled civilian government to be replicated on the Nile.

Pakistan and Egypt each have powerful intelligence and internal security agencies that have acquired extra-legal powers they will not relinquish easily. Pakistan’s history of fomenting insurgencies in neighboring countries has caused serious problems for the United States. And Egypt’s internal security forces have been accused of involvement in domestic terrorist attacks and sectarian violence. (However, Washington has long seen Egypt’s military as a stabilizing force that keeps the peace with Israel.)

The danger is that in the future, without accountability to elected civilian authorities, the Egyptian military and security services will seek to increase their power by manipulating Islamic extremist organizations in volatile and strategically sensitive areas like the Sinai Peninsula.

Despite the security forces’ constant meddling in politics, Pakistan at least has a Constitution that establishes civilian supremacy over the military. Alarmingly, Egypt’s army is seeking even greater influence than what Pakistan’s top brass now enjoys: an explicit political role, and freedom from civilian oversight enshrined in law.

Egypt’s army was once considered heroic for siding with peaceful demonstrators against Mr. Mubarak, but it has badly mishandled the country in the past year. The riot at a soccer match on Wednesday that killed around 70 people underscored the leadership’s failure to undertake badly needed police reform and restore security. The economy is teetering, peaceful demonstrators have been tried in military courts, anti-Christian violence has spiked and ministers appointed by the military have hounded civil society groups that advocate government accountability, budget transparency, human rights and free elections.

A dismayed Congress has attached conditions to future military assistance to Egypt (now $1.3 billion a year), requiring the Obama administration to certify that the military government is maintaining peace with Israel, allowing a transition to civilian rule and protecting basic freedoms — or to waive the conditions on national security grounds — if it wants to keep aid flowing.

The Egyptian military is clearly not meeting at least two of those three conditions right now. Consequently, the Obama administration should not certify compliance, nor should it invoke the national security waiver by arguing that Egyptian-Israeli peace is paramount and that Egypt’s military is the only bulwark against Islamist domination of the country — because both of these arguments are deeply flawed.

First, hardly anyone in Egypt favors war with Israel, and a freeze or suspension of American aid would not change that. Second, continuing support to an Egyptian military that is bent on hobbling a liberal civil society would only strengthen Islamist domination. Islamist groups won some 70 percent of seats in the recent parliamentary elections, but they will now face tremendous pressure to solve the deep economic and political problems that caused the revolution.

In Egypt, as in Pakistan, the ultimate solution is a peaceful transfer of power to elected, accountable civilians and the removal of the military’s overt and covert influence from the political scene. At a minimum, Egypt should establish the clear supremacy of the civilian government over the military and allow an unfettered civil society to flourish.

Washington should suspend military assistance to Egypt until those conditions are met. Taking that difficult step now could help Egypt avoid decades of the violence, terrorism and cloak-and-dagger politics that continue to plague Pakistan.

Michele Dunne, a former White House and State Department official, and Shuja Nawaz, the author of “Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within,” are the directors of the Middle East and South Asia centers, respectively, at The Atlantic Council.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/opinion/can-egypt-avoid-pakistans-fate.html

------

"First, hardly anyone in Egypt favors war with Israel"

Why did the proestors attack the Israeli Embassy in Cairo? Just for fun? And why is the gas pipeline being attacked repeatedly?

 

[iajj]

there was only one true revolution during the arab spring - that was the egyptian revolution (the libyan and syrian "revolutions" are just revolts). obama, a liberal and an african, personally betrayed that revolution and betrayed it to a military junta. obama is no better than napoleon iii in my eyes after what he did to egyptians and wish him as good a fate as napoleon iii's/

 

[agentny17]

there was only one true revolution during the arab spring - that was the egyptian revolution (the libyan and syrian "revolutions" are just revolts). obama, a liberal and an african, personally betrayed that revolution and betrayed it to a military junta. obama is no better than napoleon iii in my eyes after what he did to egyptians and wish him as good a fate as napoleon iii's/

Military Junta will be gone before July, the 4th, doesn't matter if they like or not. Also, doesn't matter if the US likes the idea or not..... I woud call the Tunisian uprising a revolution, without it, their won't be an Egyptian revoution if you ask me.

 

[agentny17]

------

"First, hardly anyone in Egypt favors war with Israel"

Why did the proestors attack the Israeli Embassy in Cairo? Just for fun? And why is the gas pipeline being attacked repeatedly?

The problem is that the US sees the NGO's as the only hope that will turn Egyptians to elect Liberals in the future(I am Liberal btw), rather than electing MB's. Its something the US can't sacrifice. The US understands that Egypts economy will suck inthe next 5 years atleast, so they are already thinking about who will replace the MB in the next elections, and without NGO's, nobody will be able to replace the MB's in the near future. Thats just me thinking out loud.

 

[Hussein]

there was only one true revolution during the arab spring - that was the egyptian revolution (the libyan and syrian "revolutions" are just revolts). obama, a liberal and an african, personally betrayed that revolution and betrayed it to a military junta. obama is no better than napoleon iii in my eyes after what he did to egyptians and wish him as good a fate as napoleon iii's/

???

Tunisia??? what is Tunisia then? the best success of all the uprisings is Tunisia, i am 100% sure! they choosed their government, not in Egypt!
Why always blame Libya because there was Western help? I s the western help always so dirty in your eyes that everything done with them is non sense? I think you clearly don't understand what means a revolution: Libya was a revolution.
It doesn't mean a revolution is happening for the best: there could be a terror period, there could be an anti revolution process following, there could be no democracy following promises of democracy, ...

Napoleon III? What is the comparison possible with Napoleon III? Suez canal?

 

[canadian icehole]

Will Egypt threaten to shut down the Suez if the US makes life difficult for them?

 

[below_freezing]

???

Tunisia??? what is Tunisia then? the best success of all the uprisings is Tunisia, i am 100% sure! they choosed their government, not in Egypt!
Why always blame Libya because there was Western help? I s the western help always so dirty in your eyes that everything done with them is non sense? I think you clearly don't understand what means a revolution: Libya was a revolution.
It doesn't mean a revolution is happening for the best: there could be a terror period, there could be an anti revolution process following, there could be no democracy following promises of democracy, ...

Napoleon III? What is the comparison possible with Napoleon III? Suez canal?

that is why i support any government gassing and bombing violent revolutionaries.

no matter how many are killed by the government, it will be less than the holocaust that usually follows.

when a government doesn't deserve to rule anymore, the army will naturally turn on it.

 

[lynx]

Trust me my friend, all countries are better off without US Aid. Islamic countries should develop their own Economy and plan to be self sufficient. This aid business compromises sovereignty and makes us dependent on foreign aid like a drug addict who needs a fix and cannot function normally.

The people will say no but the Army will not..both Egyptian & Pakistan Army.

---------- Post added at 02:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:04 PM ----------

that is why i support any government gassing and bombing violent revolutionaries.

no matter how many are killed by the government, it will be less than the holocaust that usually follows.

when a government doesn't deserve to rule anymore, the army will naturally turn on it.

The CCP was also violent revolutionaries in the past, much violent than what we see in Arab Spring.Don't forget your history mate.

 

[Hussein]

when a government doesn't deserve to rule anymore, the army will naturally turn on it.

No this is not true. There are many exemples in this world where it is not working.
Birmania, North Korea , Iran, and so. If the Army if in the hand of the leader, it is hard for the army to follow the people. Especially when inside army everything is checked about your ideas and your actions, so you'd not be a danger for the system.
Anyway this is as well true for West : if you are communist you cannot enter army