Posted on 08/19/2013 5:35:44 PM PDT by kristinn
The U.S. government has decided privately to act as if the military takeover of Egypt was a coup, temporarily suspending most forms of military aid, despite deciding not to announce publicly a coup determination one way or the other, according to a leading U.S. senator.
In the latest example of its poorly understood Egypt policy, the Obama administration has decided to temporarily suspend the disbursement of most direct military aid, the delivery of weapons to the Egyptian military, and some forms of economic aid to the Egyptian government while it conducts a broad review of the relationship. The administration won’t publicly acknowledge all aspects of the aid suspension and maintains its rhetorical line that no official coup determination has been made, but behind the scenes, extensive measures to treat the military takeover of Egypt last month as a coup are being implemented on a temporary basis.
The office of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the head of the Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, told The Daily Beast on Monday that military aid to Egypt has been temporarily cut off.
“[Senator Leahy’s] understanding is that aid to the Egyptian military has been halted, as required by law,” said David Carle, a spokesman for Leahy.
The administration’s public message is that $585 million of promised aid to the Egyptian military in fiscal 2013 is not officially on hold, as technically it is not due until Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year, and no final decisions have been made.
“After sequestration withholding, approximately $585 million remains unobligated. So, that is the amount that is unobligated,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday. “But it would be inaccurate to say that a policy decision has been made with respect to the remaining assistance funding.”
But two administration officials told The Daily Beast that administration lawyers decided it was best to observe the law restricting military aid on a temporary basis, as if there had been a coup designation, while at the same time deciding that the law did not require a public announcement on whether a coup took place.
“The decision was we’re going to avoid saying it was a coup, but to stay on the safe side of the law, we are going to act as if the designation has been made for now,” said one administration official. “By not announcing the decision, it gives the administration the flexibility to reverse it.”
Several parts of the aid are now temporarily on hold, including the disbursement of the $585 million of $1.3 billion in fiscal 2013 foreign military financing still not delivered to the Egyptian military, the delivery of Apache helicopters that the Egyptian government has already paid for, and the depositing of economic support funds for programs that would directly benefit the Egyptian government, despite official administration denials, the administration officials said.
SNIP
FYI.
So , I guess the Russians will have a new canal and port, if not bases in the middle east. How convenient to Syria too.
The Saudis already have said they will write the checks.
Put the saved US money towards wounded warriors.
And he pissed off Egypt which we have vital interest in.
I am sorry, Obama sucks, this entire Arab Spring sucks.
This rogue regime (not theirs, ours) has lost all legitimacy ... it is time for regime change in the US.
Wow! I can’t believe it. Could this be the first good thing Obama has done???? Please tell me I am right. Any aide to another country at the time we have zero money is not a good thing. Israel is different because they have a whole bunch of countries that want Israel whipped out.
If by “wounded warriors” you mean shiftless food stamp recipients, Section 8, ACORN and the EPA, I’m sure Mr. Obama will kindly comply.
What secret? He said he was going to do it....
If by “wounded warriors” you mean shiftless food stamp recipients, Section 8, ACORN and the EPA, I’m sure Mr. Obama will kindly comply.
Wounded Warriors would rather see Americas interests preserved than lose power in the world and have their butts wiped.
Thats OK
The king of Saudi Arabia that Barry bowed to has picked up the slack...
BAD BARRY
Yuz POed yuz king..
We just handed over control of the Suez Canal to Russia??
There is the chance of course that obamas plan is bloody bloody insurrection like in syria, iraq, afghanistan, libya...he needs to keep al queada going.
It’s looking to shape up that way.
Muzzie dead-enders in charge? PLENTY of US weapons
Balanced people take charge? NO MORE...!
Gosh I WONDER if Obama is a muzzie, right?
YEAH I WONDER...!
Honduras on the Suez with Morsi playing the part of the democrats’ chosen despot
the kenyan is a Sunni Mohammedan and a Moslem Brotherhood sympathizer if not a member.What more is needed for understanding?
Several parts of the aid are now temporarily on hold, including ... the delivery of Apache helicopters that the Egyptian government has already paid for,
__________________________________________________
so this is not aid..
the helicopters were paid for by Egypt...
This has to be a NONO...
but what does that-guy-in-my-White-House TM care ???
Personally I doubt its true.
Nobody is asking enough questions about these so called secularists who supported the ousting of Morsi and what I’m finding is people we shouldn’t cheer on or trust any more than the brotherhood. They sound to me like Obama’s kind of people.
A little research on the Tamarod movement and their parent Kefaya movement would go a long way.
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