U.S. suspends significant military aid to Egypt

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a dramatic shift toward a major Arab ally, the Obama administration announced a suspension of significant military aid to Egypt on Wednesday over the bloody crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

The move, involving hundreds of millions in U.S. assistance to the Egyptian military, is the culmination of months of debate within the administration about how to respond to the July 3 ouster of former President Mohamed Morsy, Egypt's first democratically elected leader.

"As a result of the review directed by President Obama, we have decided to maintain our relationship with the Egyptian government, while recalibrating our assistance to Egypt to best advance our interests," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

The Obama administration has still not labeled Morsy's removal from office a coup.

Such a designation would require a cut in all but humanitarian aid, a step Obama has been reluctant to take. Last month, the president's top national security advisers recommended he cut most of the aid to the military.

Officials have said Washington wants to maintain its relationship with the Egyptian military and interim government, and the statement noted the United States and Egypt still "have a "longstanding partnership and many shared interests."

But after U.S. calls for Egyptian military restraint over the past few months were met with a crackdown on Morsy supporters, Obama canceled a joint military exercise and announced the review of all American aid to Egypt.

Death toll rises as violence rages on in Egypt

Some military aid was suspended and military shipments from the United States were slowed while the review was underway.

The United States will "continue to hold the delivery of certain large-scale military systems and cash assistance to the government pending credible progress toward an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government through free and fair elections," Psaki said in the statement.

"The United States continues to support a democratic transition and oppose violence as a means of resolving differences within Egypt," she added.

Senior administration officials briefed reporters on details of the decision. The United States will halt a $260 million cash transfer to Egypt and suspend large-scale military systems, like the F-16 aircraft, M1A1 tank parts, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Apache helicopters. Some of the aid will be "repurposed" to benefit the Egyptian people.

One of the officials said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called Egyptian army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to advise him of the decision. Hagel told him the United States would continue military training and education, a symbol of the long-term relationship.

The aid cut is meant to be temporary with the hope that the Egyptian military will take steps toward restoring democracy.

The United States also plans to meet its commitments for Egypt-related work being performed by contractors.

Non-military assistance for programs like health, education and private sector economic development programs will also continue, Psaki said, adding that the United States would put a premium on assistance going forward that "directly benefits the Egyptian people."

"The United States wants to see Egypt succeed, and we believe the U.S.-Egypt partnership will be strongest when Egypt is represented by an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government based on the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and an open and competitive economy," she said.

The move does not include funding toward security in the Sinai Peninsula and along the Egyptian border with Gaza, as well as assistance for counter-terrorism, Psaki said.

In September, an Egyptian court banned all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and froze its finances, drawing complaints from the international community.

At the United Nations General Assembly, Egypt's interim foreign minister sought to quell these concerns.

Nabil Fahmy said Egypt will hold elections in the spring. He also argued that the political process is open to all "as long as they are committed to the renunciation of violence and terrorism and acts of incitement to them."

But violence has continued throughout the country. Dozens of people were killed last weekend when Muslim Brotherhood supporters clashed with their opponents and security forces.

The statement issued on Wednesday suggested the move could be reversed if the govern0ment took steps to restore democracy.

"We will continue to review the decisions regarding our assistance periodically and will continue to work with the interim government to help it move toward our shared goals in an atmosphere free of violence and intimidation," Psaki said.

On Tuesday, Amnesty International sent a letter to Obama urging the United States to not facilitate arms for Egypt.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/09/world/meast/us-egypt-aid/
 
As a result of the review directed by President Obama, we have decided to maintain our relationship with the Egyptian government, while recalibrating our assistance to Egypt to best advance our interests," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement
this woman is an airhead - seen her speak, she is a pretty face. Nothing more - can't even persuade.

One has to be able to enunciate with some degree of certainity - she's worse then Obama's "um errs"

On Tuesday, Amnesty International sent a letter to Obama urging the United States to not facilitate arms for Egypt.
What is this?? All of a sudden Amnesty is making our foreign policy?
Egypt's Sinai as been wracked with terrorists - all since Morsi's removal - Morsi let them accrue there.
Dozens of people were killed last weekend when Muslim Brotherhood supporters clashed with their opponents and security forces.
This is news?
Apparently Obama never got the memo, that the EMuslim Brotherhood is NOT about democracy, but about aquiring power.

EGYPT OUTLAWED THE PARTY -and now all of a sudden the USA is trying to force Egyptian hands?

How about letting Egypt decide it's own internals - Democracy is a nice idea, but not means to and ends - though the US seems to prefer Democracy over Stability.
Unbelievable. Obama can't do ANYTHING right on foreign policy/wars.
 
Democracy is not about winning an election. Why are we suddenly withdrawing aid to the military when Egypt has been having new riots?, this week?
 
It's a phony financial fight in Washington.
We have sooo much extra money we send billions to countries training guys to kill our guys.
 
Well the US better not fuck with Egypt for too long or Egypt will lose any loyalty it has to the US and go shopping in Russia for aid. Bad idea to fuck with allies that are only allies for the money and otherwise hate everything about the US!
 
removal of SIGNIFICANT military aid is seen as supporting the Muslim Brotherood. MB is not in our interest; pay the piper to keep Egypt the most secular Arab state.

$260 million cash transfer to Egypt and suspend large-scale military systems, like the F-16 aircraft, M1A1 tank parts, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Apache helicopters.
Some of the aid will be "repurposed" to benefit the Egyptian people
peanuts. Re-supply of parts keeps the military up an running. Not a good place to cut.

"Repurposed" to benefit the Egyptian people is dumbed down- the "benefit" of the people - except for the hard core Islamists, is not to let the Egyptian economy be run into the ground, like it was under Morsi.
This is basic stuff.
 
Well the US better not fuck with Egypt for too long or Egypt will lose any loyalty it has to the US and go shopping in Russia for aid. Bad idea to fuck with allies that are only allies for the money and otherwise hate everything about the US!

Yeah, they're such a valuable ally in the region aren't they?
 
Yeah, they're such a valuable ally in the region aren't they?
they are in that they work with Israel to stop Sinai terror. They haven't been to helpful for the Palestinians -shutting down tunnels as of late, but the Palestinians are pawns for all the Arabs to rally around.

More then that they are in what they are not - an extension of radical Islam - why this whole move by Obama is startingly stupid in timing ( riots this week).

You know geography - look at North Africa - Libyan Islamic Fighting Group sending jihadists into Syria. Now suppose Egypt was so screwed up.
 
a dramatic shift toward a major Arab ally, the Obama administration announced a suspension of significant military aid to Egypt on Wednesday over the bloody crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

The move, involving hundreds of millions in U.S. assistance to the Egyptian military, is the culmination of months of debate within the administration about how to respond to the July 3 ouster of former President Mohamed Morsy, Egypt's first democratically elected leader.

"As a result of the review directed by President Obama, we have decided to maintain our relationship with the Egyptian government, while recalibrating our assistance to Egypt to best advance our interests," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

The Obama administration has still not labeled Morsy's removal from office a coup.

Such a designation would require a cut in all but humanitarian aid, a step Obama has been reluctant to take. Last month, the president's top national security advisers recommended he cut most of the aid to the military.

Officials have said Washington wants to maintain its relationship with the Egyptian military and interim government, and the statement noted the United States and Egypt still "have a "longstanding partnership and many shared interests."

But after U.S. calls for Egyptian military restraint over the past few months were met with a crackdown on Morsy supporters, Obama canceled a joint military exercise and announced the review of all American aid to Egypt.

Death toll rises as violence rages on in Egypt

Some military aid was suspended and military shipments from the United States were slowed while the review was underway.

The United States will "continue to hold the delivery of certain large-scale military systems and cash assistance to the government pending credible progress toward an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government through free and fair elections," Psaki said in the statement.

"The United States continues to support a democratic transition and oppose violence as a means of resolving differences within Egypt," she added.

Senior administration officials briefed reporters on details of the decision. The United States will halt a $260 million cash transfer to Egypt and suspend large-scale military systems, like the F-16 aircraft, M1A1 tank parts, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Apache helicopters. Some of the aid will be "repurposed" to benefit the Egyptian people.

One of the officials said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called Egyptian army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to advise him of the decision. Hagel told him the United States would continue military training and education, a symbol of the long-term relationship.

The aid cut is meant to be temporary with the hope that the Egyptian military will take steps toward restoring democracy.

The United States also plans to meet its commitments for Egypt-related work being performed by contractors.

Non-military assistance for programs like health, education and private sector economic development programs will also continue, Psaki said, adding that the United States would put a premium on assistance going forward that "directly benefits the Egyptian people."

"The United States wants to see Egypt succeed, and we believe the U.S.-Egypt partnership will be strongest when Egypt is represented by an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government based on the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and an open and competitive economy," she said.

The move does not include funding toward security in the Sinai Peninsula and along the Egyptian border with Gaza, as well as assistance for counter-terrorism, Psaki said.

In September, an Egyptian court banned all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and froze its finances, drawing complaints from the international community.

At the United Nations General Assembly, Egypt's interim foreign minister sought to quell these concerns.

Nabil Fahmy said Egypt will hold elections in the spring. He also argued that the political process is open to all "as long as they are committed to the renunciation of violence and terrorism and acts of incitement to them."

But violence has continued throughout the country. Dozens of people were killed last weekend when Muslim Brotherhood supporters clashed with their opponents and security forces.

The statement issued on Wednesday suggested the move could be reversed if the govern0ment took steps to restore democracy.

"We will continue to review the decisions regarding our assistance periodically and will continue to work with the interim government to help it move toward our shared goals in an atmosphere free of violence and intimidation," Psaki said.

On Tuesday, Amnesty International sent a letter to Obama urging the United States to not facilitate arms for Egypt.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/09/world/meast/us-egypt-aid/

I think not selling arms to Eygpt is an excellent idea.
 
we do sell arms to Saudi Arabia, Israel, have a naval pesence in the Persian Gulf.

Persian-Gulf-US-Navy.jpg

Thing is we have been selling weapons/ conducting Joint Exercises with Egypt for as long as I can remember ( a long time!!)

So if we are now going to stop, even temporarily while Egypt is in a period of civil unrest, we need to have a darn good reason.

Technically we cannot sell weapons to a junta ruled country ( Congressional law) - but Congress has been looking the other way since the coup of Morsi;
after some early bleating by Leahy.

So why now?
 
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