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
Good point.
I was specifically thinking of the Bin Ladens, who are billionaires. Osama was. Old man Bin Laden is/was. Osama’s son, Al Harbi....who was in Boston...is well thy. These people can go to the money well for a long time.
Are ANY Middle Eastern US embassies open again? In any Muslim country?
That’s why Putin is picking up the slack...
Putin acts in support of Egyptian military
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3055973/posts
That’s why Putin is picking up the slack...
Putin acts in support of Egyptian military
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3055973/posts
What a sorry, screwed up mess. And we, well Obama, have been eyeball deep in it.
0bama is doing a fine job of alienating all of America’s allies. I have a feeling this isn’t accidental.
Yet, we're supposed to believe this president (lower case "p" on purpose) made a "gutsy call" about killing bin Laden?
GTFOOH.
This a “have your cake and eat it, too” leak to the press. The 0 regime can officially deny ending aid to Egypt, to the new army regime and to the MB while the domestic lib press dutifully discloses these unofficial leaks in print and on TV.
this is not a “good thing”
it only shows the Egyptians, Saudis and other middle east governments that the US insists they include al Qaeda (directly linked to MB see arrest of al Qaeda leader’s brother by EG last weekend) in any “democratic” coalition government - as if the MB/al Qaeda was willing to be part of a “coalition”?
so, Obama’s policy peeps are throwing both Egypt and Saudi Arabia under the magic bus
when we cut off aid, and Saudi/the Gulf States replace it, and Egypt contracts for Russian and Chinese weapons, what has obama’s policy achieved?
it only shows the Egyptians, Saudis and other middle east governments that the US insists they include al Qaeda (directly linked to MB see arrest of al Qaeda leader's brother by EG last weekend) in any “democratic” coalition government - as if the MB/al Qaeda was willing to be part of a “coalition”?
so, Obama’s policy peeps are throwing both Egypt and Saudi Arabia under the magic bus
when we cut off aid, and Saudi/the Gulf States replace it, and Egypt contracts for Russian and Chinese weapons, what has obama’s policy achieved?
From 2011, in Human Events:
Obama’s Muslim Brotherhood Ties
http://www.humanevents.com/2011/02/08/obamas-muslim-brotherhood-ties/
Hellooo...Israel is right next to Egypt and like it or not...the Egyptian military has been a defense for Israel in that region.
BTW, the Egyptian Army is THE only stabalizing force in Egypt now and demolishing the Muslim Brotherhood while they are at it...And you don’t want to back them???Duh.
Hellooo...Israel is right next to Egypt and like it or not...the Egyptian military has been a defense for Israel in that region.
BTW, the Egyptian Army is THE only stabalizing force in Egypt now and demolishing the Muslim Brotherhood while they are at it...And you don’t want to back them???Duh.
that would only be if he could act out of a political motive..I don’t even think he’s THAT competent.
380 miles by plane. I would not call it next too but I am finding that FREEPERS are for giving aide to Egypt. A few weeks ago we were complaining about all the foreign aide being give to countries. This is why we will NEVER recover from our economic condition. Our pet projects are what is most important.
It will be Benghazi Redo.
I agree. This is awesome. Why would we give money to these butchering military thugs. STOP THE DAMNED MONEY!! Take the printed money and burn it. It is worthless. To hell with the greatest atrocities on civilians since Stalin!! 1100 dead and 5000 maimed and wounded!! God oh mighty.
I agree. This is awesome. Why would we give money to these butchering military thugs. STOP THE DAMNED MONEY!! Take the printed money and burn it. It is worthless. To hell with the greatest atrocities on civilians since Stalin!! 1100 dead and 5000 maimed and wounded!! God oh mighty.
lol. That is a great post. I especially like the comparison to Stalin...
he is the brother of al Qaeda leader, #1 most wanted terrorist, and 9-11 master planner Ayman al Zawahiri
wth he is walking around free in Egypt- who knew
anyhow they stated Mohammad al Zawahir1 was an adviser to Morsi's government as the leader of the “ultra conservative” Jihadi Salafist movement
So wth is the Jihadi Salafist movement and why does it matter?
This article gives a good overview of the radicalism of the “muslim brotherhood”- Morsi’s party
Read this and ask why the USG is demanding that the Egyptian people (now in full rebellion against MB dictatorship established in 1 short year under Morsi) free Morsi and bring the MB into a coalition govt? How is that supposed to work? When has the MB ever played nice with other kids except radical fundies and terrorists?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html
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