Egypt's FM, American VP, Secretary Of State Oppose Aid Conditions

Source: AHN

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Abou Al Gheit said told reporters that "my talk with the American officials focused on the dual strategic relations" between the two nations, adding that "Egypt aims to have a bigger understanding with Washington."

"Egypt won't accept new conditions which the U.S. House of Representatives have attached to a military aid bill," he continued.

In the press conference, he mentioned that Dick Cheney and Condoleezza rice agreed with him in opposing these conditions.

The bill grants Egypt $1.3 billion in military aid, but withholds $2 million on three conditions: Egypt must improve and work on it's human rights observations, stop interfering with the judicial system and to stop gun smuggling into Gaza through its borders.



Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007869585

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This looks like a job for Cheney/Bush signing statements. Just signing statement those pesky conditions right out of the aid bill.

I may be wrong, don't know that much about our relations with Egypt, shame on me, but why the hell are we giving them 1.3 billion in military aid in the first place. I realize that they need our help economically, but where do we draw the line. We have to buy our friends these days. How much health care would that buy? Or Food? Or Housing? Geeze Louise.

There is no "these days" about it - this goes back to the Carter admin. Of all the problems the US has had in the Middle East, Egypt has not been one of them because (in part) the US has taken active steps to ensure that it does not become one.

Feel free to disagree, but do so out of knowledge.

We have been giving Egypt about 2 billion dollars of military aid plus economic aid annually since the Camp David accords. Egypt asked for the military aid, probably because they're a dictatorship run by a former air force officer who likes to build up strong security forces to prop up his regime.

Unfortunately, AIPAC favors limiting military aid to Arab countries. AIPAC actually hurt Israeli security interests in the 80s by driving Saudi Arabia from acquiring weapons from the U.S. to acquiring weapons from the U.K. A potential weapons deal with the U.S. would've severely monitored and restricted the use and deployment of U.S. weapon systems so as to quell the fear of Israelis. The U.K deal gave Saudi Arabia MORE weapon systems and allows Saudi Arabia to use them in basically any way they want.

If AIPAC manage to cut down the aid to Egypt they will surely drive Egypt to have more hostile relations with Israel.