"Here are a couple of riddles for you: When is a coup not a coup? And why is the White House not like Humpty Dumpty?
"In Through the Looking Glass, Humpty tells Alice: "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."
"The White House press secretary, Jay Carney, doesn't have that luxury. If he called the Egyptian military's intervention in the democratic process a "coup", it would clearly mean the huge amount of aid the US gives to Egypt would have to be cut off.
"Because that's what it says, in black and white, in the US Code:
"None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to this act shall be obligated or expended to finance directly any assistance to any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree."
"And it is not a few cents here and there - the president's plans are to give $1.5bn (£1bn) next year. There is also a suggestion that cutting the money would hurt US arms manufacturers.
"So instead, Mr Carney talks of Mohammed Morsi's "removal" from office, saying it would not be in the US interest to cut off aid: "This is a complex and difficult issue with significant consequences."
"Are they listening?
"There will be a review and the cash could still be pulled. The president himself has not ventured an opinion.
"But Senator John McCain has declared that aid should be stopped, despite his misgivings about Mr Morsi.
"It is difficult for me to conclude that what happened was anything other than a coup in which the military played a decisive role," he said.
"I do not want to suspend our critical assistance to Egypt, but I believe that is the right thing to do at this time."
"It may be that President Obama is weighing which of his options give him the most clout with the Egyptian military. But it is not clear they are listening.
"The one consistent call from the White House has been for an end to the violence. Monday's events in Cairo, whomever you believe, do not fit that bill.
"The trouble is that the White House looks powerless, when it obviously has a great deal of power and, quite literally, investment in Egypt.
"In the end, Mr Obama's passivity may turn out to be level-headed diplomacy. But it looks bad to those who accuse him of prevaricating.
"It doesn't feel like leadership, and the number of harsh judgments on his foreign policy is growing."
Replies (8)
It appears to me that our government makes laws that it expects the citizens to follow and obey. The government itself just does what feels good at the moment.
We know this administration feels it is above the law, they have proved it time and again.
-- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Thu, Jul 25, 2013, at 9:42 AM
Some Republican House members need to go, right along with a good number of the Democrats. The country can do quite nicely without them.
-- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Thu, Jul 25, 2013, at 4:41 PM
Our founders detested democracy yet our present day leaders demand democracy as a vital requirement for U.S. aid via our foriegn policy.
Giving fighter jets and money to Egypt for armament is like stoking a tiger thinking it will turn into a kitten.
Obama got his way when he empowered the Muslim Brotherhood and the embiciles are now ready to further his dream by financing Sharia Law and the cause of the Taliban.
-- Posted by Old John on Thu, Jul 25, 2013, at 5:28 PM
It would appear that no one above has any clue as to why the US government has provided military assistance in the form of equipment and funds to Egypt for years. The simple fact is that the aid is to counterbalance the billions of dollars we give to Israel.
Were it not for that, the entire world would be convinced that the US is 100% in support of Israel and 0% in support of the Arab world. Without the need to continue assistance to the Israli military we could end the aid to Egypt.
However, helping the Egyptian generals is one form of influence that we still hold over Egypt.
-- Posted by commonsensematters on Thu, Jul 25, 2013, at 5:49 PM
Spaniard
"The draft spending bill from Republican leaders of the House Appropriations committee puts conditions on the military aid, including that the government in Cairo plans and holds elections and honors its 1979 peace treaty with Israel."
-- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Thu, Jul 25, 2013, at 6:06 PM
It would appear that no one has any clue about anything but Common.
-- Posted by Old John on Thu, Jul 25, 2013, at 6:10 PM
That is merely the appropriation for next year's budget. The money cannot be spent if it is not appropriated, thus it is included in the bill, with conditions.
If the conditions aren't met, it does not get spent (in theory). However, as the original link suggests, the definitions that outline those conditions are subject to being bent...
-- Posted by Shapley Hunter on Thu, Jul 25, 2013, at 7:17 PM
Common is an expert on everything. Just ask him.
If Obama had his way he would pull every subsidy out of Israel. Remember he said he would stand with the Muslims. He will find a way to keep funding his brothers. Hide and watch.
-- Posted by bothedog on Thu, Jul 25, 2013, at 7:50 PM
Menu
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23236012
"Here are a couple of riddles for you: When is a coup not a coup? And why is the White House not like Humpty Dumpty?
"In Through the Looking Glass, Humpty tells Alice: "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."
"The White House press secretary, Jay Carney, doesn't have that luxury. If he called the Egyptian military's intervention in the democratic process a "coup", it would clearly mean the huge amount of aid the US gives to Egypt would have to be cut off.
"Because that's what it says, in black and white, in the US Code:
"None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to this act shall be obligated or expended to finance directly any assistance to any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree."
"And it is not a few cents here and there - the president's plans are to give $1.5bn (£1bn) next year. There is also a suggestion that cutting the money would hurt US arms manufacturers.
"So instead, Mr Carney talks of Mohammed Morsi's "removal" from office, saying it would not be in the US interest to cut off aid: "This is a complex and difficult issue with significant consequences."
"Are they listening?
"There will be a review and the cash could still be pulled. The president himself has not ventured an opinion.
"But Senator John McCain has declared that aid should be stopped, despite his misgivings about Mr Morsi.
"It is difficult for me to conclude that what happened was anything other than a coup in which the military played a decisive role," he said.
"I do not want to suspend our critical assistance to Egypt, but I believe that is the right thing to do at this time."
"It may be that President Obama is weighing which of his options give him the most clout with the Egyptian military. But it is not clear they are listening.
"The one consistent call from the White House has been for an end to the violence. Monday's events in Cairo, whomever you believe, do not fit that bill.
"The trouble is that the White House looks powerless, when it obviously has a great deal of power and, quite literally, investment in Egypt.
"In the end, Mr Obama's passivity may turn out to be level-headed diplomacy. But it looks bad to those who accuse him of prevaricating.
"It doesn't feel like leadership, and the number of harsh judgments on his foreign policy is growing."
Replies (8)