Free Republic

As administration officials mull a response to the turmoil in Egypt, conservative foreign policy experts and commentators remain divided over the question of U.S. aid and how to deal with the military following its takeover and the recent bloodshed. Those who favor continuing aid cite the need to protect key U.S. regional interests, topped by a secure Suez Canal and the Egypt-Israel peace treaty—interests more likely to be safeguarded by the Egyptian military than the Muslim Brotherhood administration it overthrew on July 3. …

Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi said in an interview Tuesday it would be a mistake if the United States cut off military aid, but insisted Cairo could survive without it. … A violent crackdown by Egypt’s security forces against supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi has prompted Washington to cancel an exercise and delay the transfer of four F-16s, amid speculation more aid could be withheld from Cairo. But Beblawi said that in the past, Egypt had turned to Russia for weapons and would find a way forward, even without American help if necessary. …

American aid to the Philippines has done Islamic militants more good than its intended beneficiary — the Philippine military — due to corruption, malpractices and questionable integrity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, according to an editorial of the New York Times yesterday. “ American aid hasn’t improved the Philippine military so far, and in many ways it has benefitted the Islamic militants it seeks to combat, “ the editorial entitled “ A Fair Fight in the Philippines “ by Brett M. Decker said. The editorial, which comes on the heels of US President George W. Bush’s short visit...