Bush, In Shift on Egypt, Links New Aid to Rights

[justint]

Washington Post Article



I think is perhaps one of the best moves made by this administration in regards to the Arab world. It is continued support for oppressive authoritarian regimes in countries such as Egypt and Saudia Arabia that provides fertile ground for Islamic radicals and general anti-American sentiment. We should take more actions like this to encourage greater respect for human rights and a shift towards democracy rather than cynically supporting these regimes for short term economic and strategic advantages.

 

[0ops]

from article
Existing aid programs will not be affected

looks like his policy lost some teeth

 

[justint]

Originally posted by: 0ops

from article
Existing aid programs will not be affected

looks like his policy lost some teeth

Yes, unfortunately. However most of the existing aid is part of military assistance which has been given to Egypt since the Camp David Accords. To limit that could cause a security imbalance in the area further increasing the vast military advantage Israel has over the Arab states. I do hope that they re-evaluate past loan guarantees etc.

 

[0ops]

Originally posted by: justint

Originally posted by: 0ops

from article
Existing aid programs will not be affected

looks like his policy lost some teeth

Yes, unfortunately. However most of the existing aid is part of military assistance which has been given to Egypt since the Camp David Accords. To limit that could cause a security imbalance in the area further increasing the vast military advantage Israel has over the Arab states. I do hope that they re-evaluate past loan guarantees etc.

I dont think this has anything to do with it. There already is a security imbalance, and it would be worse if Israel did not
have such a military advantage. They are not cutting existing military aid because the money actually goes to American
businesses (while the weapons go to egypt). I also believe that they were just looking for a reason to cut the new aid
after the aid to Israel and the Palestinians got cancelled (see article).

 

[justint]

I agree that the money going to US defense contractors was probably a big factor in not touching the military aid, but it is almost certain that the administration will obtain the cancelled funding for Israel and probably the Palestinians in seperate funding requests in the fall.

 

[0ops]

lets see if eqypt gets new military aid sometime after that as well

 

[Piano Man]

So if they can go after Egypt, why not Saudi Arabia? Oh I forgot......oil.

 

[rbhawcroft]

Originally posted by: Piano Man
So if they can go after Egypt, why not Saudi Arabia? Oh I forgot......oil.

yeah but that will be largely irrelevant in a years time, hehe.

 

[syzygy]

a n.y. times editorial last week highlighted this case and challenged the bush administration to act.

egypt is a republic and has western democratic pretensions, whereas saudi arabia is a monarchy ruled by
clannish wahhabis who don't care one iota about western democracy.

looks as if this decision is framed to appeal to the famed 'arab street'.