Posted on 01/27/2012 10:43:10 PM PST by Olog-hai
A Egyptian military team plans to visit the United States next week as Cairo's crackdown on pro-democracy organizations has called into question the future of U.S. aid to Egypt, American officials said on Friday. …
The Egyptian visit comes after Egypt's military-led authorities pounced on non-governmental organizations, including several funded by the U.S. government, and slapped travel bans on six American staffers including a son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former congressman.
Political analysts say the crackdown, along with questions over Egypt's emergency law and security forces' treatment of women protesters, has clouded the outlook for Egypt's fledgling democracy following last year's overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said American officials were pressing Egyptian authorities the crackdown, which she described as "bizarre." The Americans have demanded that Egypt lift travel restrictions placed on a number of foreign NGO staffers.
"We do not have progress since yesterday, I am sorry to report," Nuland said.
The six U.S. citizens work with the National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute. Both receive U.S. public funding and are loosely affiliated with the two major political parties in Washington. …
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
History repeating?
jimmy Carter and the Iranian hostages..
barack Obama and the Cairo “detainees”.
Maybe it would be better for our budget if we let Egypt keep them...
Hence the visit to the White House by Bush sr?
Why would they not also be called "hostages"?
They probably appreciate the involvement of these groups in the same way that we would appreciate foreign "election observers" here.
What we’re seeing here is the first inklings of what happens when rather stable governments are torn down, and Islamic fundamentalists get their way.
Arab Spring my posterior...
This is merely the beginnings of their winter of discontent.
There is a very good chance the lights are going out in Northern Africa.
Seems the stage is set.
Egypt has been known to be one of the most corrupt countries in the Middle East and that is saying something.
Many rely on the aid money from the USA.
Over three billion a year plus charities and UN relief.
Our Republican controlled House of Reps have begun to
cut back on the money sent due to “Arab Spring”.
These hostages takers are no different than the Somali pirates. We will get the hostages back after we pay a ransom, quietly of course. Then more will be taken and Westerners will pay more.
Hey, it is easier than building a factory.
Islam- more highway men than holy men.
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