Lawmakers at odds over U.S. aid to Egypt

With the absolute cluster going on over in Egypt it seems this is also been an underlying question on ATS as well. So what does America (and the EU) do about this? With the death toll now over 1000 it has the same stench as what's going on in Syria. Maybe not as bad yet but give it some time.

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress appeared divided Sunday over whether to curtail U.S. aid to the Egyptian military after its bloody crackdown against pro-Islamist demonstrators last week that left more than 1,000 people dead.

The split reflects the paucity of good options for Washington in responding to Egypt’s spiraling crisis. Advocates of cutting off the $1.5 billion in annual U.S. aid say it would boost America’s standing in the Arab world. Opponents argue that it could destroy whatever leverage the United States retains in the Arab world’s most populous nation.

“There are no good choices in Egypt," said Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. "The fact is there's no good guys there."

But King said the United States needs to maintain its relationship with the generals in Cairo to preserve Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel, to prevent Al Qaeda militants from gaining a safe haven and to ensure continued access for U.S. warships and commercial traffic to the Suez Canal.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who visited Egypt this month in a failed attempt to broker a political settlement, was among several Republicans who urged the Obama administration to cut off aid. Graham said the crackdown by the Egyptian military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Sisi, risked fueling a domestic insurgency that could threaten Israel’s security and wider U.S. interests in the region.

Lawmakers at odds over U.S. aid to Egypt

So what is a meddling politician to do? Personally I put this back directly on Obama for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in the first place. What did he expect when he backed radical Islam? As far as fixing this mess ... I think Humpty-Dumpty has been hammered and the body count is only going up. That said we should support the Egyptian army.

Not only billions in bribe money but weapons too. The ones being used on the Egyptian people right now.

Lawmakers at odds. Thats the typical excuse that heralds inaction. We just can't make up our minds they say. Where is the call for sanctions, no fly zones, military intervention and "Regime change"?

America is two faced.

Originally posted by intrptr
Not only billions in bribe money but weapons too. The ones being used on the Egyptian people right now.

Lawmakers at odds. Thats the typical excuse that heralds inaction. We just can't make up our minds they say. Where is the call for sanctions, no fly zones, military intervention and "Regime change"?

America is two faced.

You'll get no arguments from me on any of the points you've made. I was going to say the US government is two faced but with the polarization in America now. Yeah we could be accused of being two faced as well.