Under the foreign aid spending bill, Egypt is also slated to receive a $250 million economic assistance package. The bill’s economic aid is under the condition that the Egyptian government “will undertake democratic reforms,” the Post reported.
Rep. Kay Granger (R-Tex.), Chairwoman of the House appropriations subcommittee on Foreign Operations, said “The spending priorities in the bill reflect the fluid and tenuous situation in the Middle East.”
Granger added, “Volatility in the region highlights the importance of reaffirming our strategic partnerships and commitments. The events in the Middle East have a direct impact on the safety and security of the United States and our allies.”
The bill, which requires approval by the House of Representatives and the Senate before it is sent to President Barack Obama for his signature, also details U.S. assistance to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Israel is set to get the $3 billion in U.S. military aid it was promised under the memorandum of agreement signed by the two countries. In addition, Israel will get aid totaling $415 million for its missile defense programs of which $205 million will be for long-range and medium-range missile systems, the Post said.
Several Democrats expressed their concern over the possibility that Israel would not get its full assistance amidst the Republicans’ efforts to slash the budget for foreign aid.
The high funding amounts set aside for Middle East countries under the bill is drawing a lot of attention. Overall, the foreign operations budget is down by 21 percent from what the Obama administration originally proposed for this year. The cuts involved a freeze on State Department salaries, scale back of U.S. contributions to the United Nations and cancellation of unspent appropriations, the Post report said.
Rep. Granger had earlier told CNN that the U.S. should “do whatever we can do to help towards stability in Egypt… Egypt has been an ally and a friend.”
© 2010 Micmn.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Continuing insurance payments for adherence to the Camp David Accords…like Egypt really wants that war anyway. The last conflict on their agenda is to create a conflict with Israel. This is just continuation of payment to the insurance policy we have had since the days following Sadat/Begin agreement for a mutual border to which Israel also is funded via the U.S. taxpayer. Same as it ever was. Perhaps it’s good bang for the buck…though I question this method and have so long before these latest developments. It is (imo) a bit skewed and slanted to one direction. It really is a pay off in the simplest of terms. Let’s call it what is……….
They are a friend and an ally. What are the millions of out of work Americans. When did they stop being Americans friend. Many people are out of work and desperate for some help from the goverment. No Jobs equals no opportunity. So lets give billions to a country who rapes and beats our female reporters and their own women daily. Take care of the American people. Stop wasting money on bad people and dictators. Mubarek is no friend of a free society.
There is now a cry for Democracy in Bahrain (for the geographically challenged, that is in the Persian Gulf) which is ruled by the Arabs. It is a member of the United Nations.
Today, 02/17/2011, thousands of peaceful Citizens of Bahrain are protesting against the nation’s absolute Monarchy. The figurehead placed in charge by the Ruling Class is named “King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa”.
As the thousands of protester citizens gathered in “Pearl Square” were sleeping or at rest for the day, hundreds of Police, bearing arms, waded into the sleepy throng and opened fire!
The casualty toll is sketchy at this point; but death and maiming are a definite part of the outcome.
In order to keep up appearances the U.S.A. must now further commit U.S. lives and treasure to assist Bahrain in the name Democracy.
After all the U.S.A. is the world-police. Or are we? No matter; there’s plenty of money to be made supplying the army with the tool of the trade.
I rest.
J.M., IV
February 2011
The administration is obviously following Nostradamus’es prophesies and trying to avoid the beginnings of WWIII in the Middle East tho they are too late for that, in another of his prophesies it said it allready began here in the “New City” with the destruction of the “twin boulders” or was it “brothers” being attacked by the “thunderbolt machines” or something like that.
The aid to Haiti i will never understand, to what strategic purpose? or is the US just trying to play God and favor whomever they want, esp. as outside aid makes the US look good and takes away attn. from problems at home.
Others have said (I dont recall where) that we the 99ers should appeal to other governments for aid, can you imagine having say France or Switzerland help out the poor in America? Dropping food care packages and tents from low flying planes over the heartland of america…or from some large south american country, God knows how many of those people we allready support as it is;
“The spending priorities in the bill reflect the fluid and tenuous situation…” and “Volatility in the region highlights the importance of reaffirming our strategic partnerships and commitments.” These are both direct quotes from this article from Rep. (R) Granger in regard to Egypt. Well, I think maybe the Gov’t of the U.S. might want to consider the fluid and tenuous situation in THIS country, with an ever increasing number of poor, disenfranchised, unemployed, underemployed, and pissed off American people! And ‘volatility in the region highlights the importance of reaffirming ….. our commitments.’ There are commitments to the people of THIS country, and what, they have no ‘partnership’ with the American people?
I think they better start looking around and seeing what’s going on here in THIS country, the ranks are getting angry…ex in Wisconsin. Let’s just see how far they can push the American people around without us beginning to push back.
Yeah. Seems the only thing our Gov’t respects–at least in OTHER countries, is rioting and demanding in large groups of people. Sure they wouldn’t respect it here, but they are willing to give verbal support and financial support in other countries.
If anyone is interested in (virtually) supporting the workers in Wisconsin, go to DemocracyforAmerica.com and I’m sure it will be prominent on their website regarding union=jobs.
The latest score at the Bahrain theatre:
Sunnis 5
Shiites zip
Stay tuned for the latest scores.