Egypt crisis over? Obama waiver allows flow of U.S. military aid to resume

Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States is preparing to resume military
exports to Egypt.

Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has
concluded that the U.S. crisis with Egypt has ended and the military regime in
Cairo is cooperating with Washington.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, left, shakes hands with Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of Egypt's ruling military council, in Cairo on March 15. /U.S. Embassy photo

The expected administration waiver has angered human rights groups. They said the resumption of U.S. military aid to Egypt would only encourage the military regime to violate democracy and human rights.

“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,” Adotei Akwei of Amnesty International USA wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “Waiving the certification requirement would forfeit a key form of pressure for the advancement of human rights.”

Officials said Obama has ordered a waiver of a congressional requirement for the administration to certify that Egypt was honoring its commitment to democracy, human rights and security cooperation.

“We may be able to be in a position to make these decisions by the
middle of next week,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on March 16.

Officials said the administration was appreciative of Egypt’s
cooperation in mediating between Israel and the Hamas regime in the Gaza
Strip which reduced fighting in their mini-war in March. They said the
military regime also allowed Americans in non-governmental organizations to
leave Egypt without prosecution.

The New York Times and Washington Post reported that Clinton would wave the congressional requirement for Egypt in mid-March. The newspaper said Ms. Clinton would cite national security for the waiver and
resume the relay of $1.3 billion of U.S. military aid to Egypt in 2012.

Officials said the waiver was meant to avoid a crisis with U.S. defense
suppliers to the Egyptian military. They said Boeing, General Dynamics,
Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, warned that they could not continue with projects in Egypt without contract fees. Cairo was preparing to receive the first of 20 F-16 Block 52 multi-role fighters and
M1A1 main battle tanks.

“Certainly, U.S. companies would take a hit,” Assistant Secretary of
State Andrew Shapiro said. “If we are not prepared to certify or waive the
requirement, the aid cannot flow.”

The administration has encouraged Congress to send delegations to settle
differences with Egypt. On March 15, a House delegation met regime leaders
and other senior officials.

“The strength of Egypt, its stability, is important to the region and to
the world,” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said. “And we want to be
helpful in that regard.”

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