Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The administration of President Barack Obama has again
waived restrictions on U.S. military aid to Egypt.

For the second straight year, the administration employed a waiver to
overcome restrictions by Congress on U.S. military aid to Egypt. Secretary
of State John Kerry decided that Egypt should receive its $1.3 billion in
annual military aid despite widespread human rights violations.

“A strong U.S. security partnership with Egypt, underpinned by FMF [Foreign Military Financing], maintains a channel to Egyptian military leadership, who are key opinion makers in the country,” Kerry said. “A decision to waive restrictions on FMF to Egypt is necessary to uphold these interests as we encourage Egypt to continue its transition to democracy.”

In a memorandum on May 9, the secretary said the State Department would grant $1.3 billion in military aid for fiscal 2013. In an unusual move, the memo, sent to appropriations committees in the House and Senate, was not released by the State Department.

“Our military assistance, includes programs that help stop the movement
of illicit goods across borders, counter terrorism, provide security
transit] ships through the Suez and increase security in the Sinai, and FMS
supports joint training that builds strong military-to-military ties and is
something that, as I mentioned, we feel has a significant national security
component of it,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on June 7.

Congressional sources said the waiver would guarantee the continuation
of U.S. exports of the F-16 Block 52 multi-role fighter to Egypt. In January
2013, Lockheed Martin sent the first four of 20 advanced F-16s to the
Egyptian Air Force.

Under the law, authored by Sen. Patrick Leahy, the secretary of state
must certify that Cairo was honoring human and religious rights as well as
free elections and security cooperation with Israel. The law provided a
waiver for the administration based on national security interests and a
detailed explanation.

Leahy has publicly responded to the Kerry waiver. But on June 4, Leahy
again warned the Islamist regime of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi after
an Egyptian court convicted American staffers of non-governmental
organizations.

“If Egypt continues on this repressive path it will be increasingly
difficult for the United States to support President Morsi’s government,”
Leahy said.

  F-16 Block 52+ multi-role fighter, Jen Psaki, Mohammed Morsi, Obama again dismisses restrictions by Congress on military aid to Egypt, Sen. Patrick Leahy, U.S. State Department