U.S. to Renew Aid to Egypt Despite Uncertainty Over Democracy
by JNS.org
The Obama administration will resume its military aid to Egypt, U.S. generals have announced, signaling a desire on the part of the U.S. government to remain involved in the country despite the growth of Islamist, anti-Democratic groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood.
Furthermore, in order to renew aid to Egypt, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to wave a requirement that links American aid to the condition that nations receiving the aid protect basic human freedoms, according to reports.
About $1.3 billion in military aid will go to Egypt once Clinton waves the requirement.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the head of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees the State Department’s budget, opposes the waiver.
“If the law is waived, I hope this flexibility will be used to release no more taxpayer funds from the Treasury than is demonstrably necessary, withholding the rest pending further progress in the transition to democracy,” Leahy said, according to Business Week.