Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Congress has begun imposing restrictions on military
aid to Egypt while ruling out funding for U.S. intervention in Syria.

The House approved a defense spending bill by a vote of 409-12 that
slashed overseas allocations and imposed restrictions on aid to Middle East
countries.

Under one amendment approved on late July 24, Washington would be banned from paying for Egypt’s military and security forces, assigned to quell Islamist unrest in wake of the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi.

“Since our national security interests in Syria and Egypt are unclear, we risk giving money and military assistance to our enemies,” Rep. Tom Massie, a sponsor of the amendment on Egypt, said.

“The constitution prohibits the president from unilaterally spending American taxpayer dollars on military operations without congressional approval. The American people deserve an open debate and an up-or-down vote by their elected officials on these important issues.”

Under the amendment, the administration would be banned from allocating
funds for either military or paramilitary operations in Egypt. Egypt receives
$1.3 billion in aid and has been awaiting the last 12 of 20 advanced F-16
multi-role fighters from Lockheed Martin. On July 24, the Defense Department
announced a suspension of delivery of four F-16s to Cairo.

Congressional staffers said the amendment was unlikely to hamper U.S.
plans to stage the Bright Star exercise. The biannual multinational exercise
was expected to take place around October, when the new fiscal year begins.

Another amendment would restrict funds for any U.S. military mission in
Syria. The amendment was co-sponsored by Rep. Ted Yoho, who said the
legislation was meant to warn President Barack Obama to consult with
Congress before ordering military operations to support Sunni rebels in
Syria.

“The Syrian opposition is a mix of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood of
Syria and organizations that have pledged allegiance to Al Qaida,” Yoho
said. “To think we can guarantee any assistance won’t come to the aid of the
groups that mean us harm is naive at best and fatal at worst. I don’t
believe arming anyone in Syria makes any American safer.”

  Congress votes to block aid to Egypt, F-16 multi-role fighters, funds for operations in Syria, Mohammed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood, Rep. Ted Yoho, Rep. Tom Massie, rules out funds for military ops in Syria