A Bad Decision on Renewing Military Aid to Egypt

(Washington Post) Editorial - The administration is considering going forward with military aid to Egypt - even though the criminal case in Cairo proceeds against more than two dozen Egyptians and civil society remains under assault. It's hard to imagine another move that could do more damage to U.S. interests and the cause of democracy. It would tell the military that, provided Americans are not harmed, it is free to persecute peaceful citizen activists and subvert the democratic transition. The real threat to U.S. security is that the transition in Egypt will end in a disaster: The military will refuse to yield power, or a democratic government will be forced by a popular backlash to rupture relations with the U.S. By handing the generals money when they have failed to meet basic democratic tests, the administration would make each of those outcomes more likely.


2012-03-19 00:00:00

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