Report: US resuming military aid to Egypt

The Obama administration plans to resume sending military aid to Egypt despite a new congressional mandate that links military aid to the protection of basic freedoms, The New York Times reported.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will waive the congressional requirement on the basis of national security as early as next week, after the $1.3 billion in military aid was in jeopardy after Egyptian authorities prevented U.S. non-governmental organization (NGO) workers from leaving Egypt as they faced prosecution for allegedly operating illegally in the country.

One of the workers was Sam LaHood, son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

LaHood and the remaining group of U.S. NGO workers were allowed to leave Egypt two weeks ago after a bail was paid.

The incident highlighted tensions within the military-led Egyptian government that’s been in place after former leader Hosni Mubarak left power.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is with a congressional delegation in Egypt, said Thursday that the recent incident was a “bump in the road” in relations between the United States and Egypt.

Clinton’s certification of the aid to Egypt would allow some, though not all, of the military aid to be given to the Egyptians, the Times reported.

Human-rights groups have pushed the Obama administration not to resume the military aid to Egypt, citing human-rights abuses.

Amnesty International sent a letter to Clinton this week urging her not to certify the aid.

“Making such a certification would undermine the brave struggle of the Egyptian people for a society founded on respect for human rights and the rule of law,” the group wrote. “Waiving the certification requirement would forfeit a key form of pressure for the advancement of human rights.” 

---