GOP Senator Holds Up $60M in Economic Aid to Egypt.

Source: nyt/ap

President Barack Obama's first package of post-coup economic aid to Egypt is hitting a roadblock in Congress, where a key Republican senator is holding up the transfer of $60 million to a program to spur private investment in Egypt's flailing economy, according to U.S. officials and congressional aides. . .

But even money with ostensibly capitalist aims is running into problems with U.S. lawmakers, many of whom have criticized the Obama administration for not halting all aid to Egypt since the military takeover as demanded by a U.S. coup law, and for lacking a clear strategy to stabilize the Arab world's most populous country.

Standing in the way on this occasion is South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees foreign assistance. Graham joined fellow GOP Sen. John McCain on a trip to Cairo in August, where they held contentious meetings with Egypt's top military brass after demanding reconciliation with Morsi's Islamist supporters and a faster timetable for the restoration of democracy.

"Senator Graham has placed a hold on these funds and until he sees Egypt moving toward democracy, he will continue to restrict funding," Kevin Bishop, a spokesman for the senator, said in a statement. "Additionally he believes American taxpayers deserve a much clearer explanation of what exactly is President Obama's policy toward Egypt."


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