Obama: Egypt after Mubarak is ‘stronger and more stable’, still honors ’79 treaty with Israel

Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has ordered that the threat of
U.S. sanctions be removed from Egypt.

Obama has waived a requirement by Congress for his administration to
prove that Egypt was honoring commitments to human rights and democracy. On
March 23, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, citing national security
concerns, said Washington would continue with plans to supply $1.3 billion
in aid to Egypt in 2012.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will allow U.S. military aid to Egypt to continue despite Cairo’s failure to meet pro-democracy conditions. /Reuters/Lucas Jackson

“These decisions reflect America’s over-arching goal — to maintain our strategic partnership with an Egypt made stronger and more stable by a successful transition to democracy,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

Ms. Clinton is said to have determined that Egypt was honoring its 1979 peace treaty with Israel. The secretary employed the waiver in a law that linked U.S. aid to Egypt’s transition toward democratic rule.

“The secretary’s decision to waive is also designed to demonstrate our strong support for Egypt’s enduring role as a security partner and leader in promoting regional stability and peace,” Ms. Nuland said. “Egypt has maintained 30-plus years of peace with Israel. It contributes to efforts to stop proliferation and arms smuggling and facilitates missions from Afghanistan to counter-terrorism in the Horn of Africa.”

Officials said the State Department was ordered to issue the waiver in
early March in an effort to maintain major U.S. military projects in Egypt.
The projects included the production of F-16 multi-role fighters and M1A1
main battle tanks. They said the first of 20 F-16 Block 52 aircraft would
arrive be delivered in April.

“I am disappointed by this decision,” Sen. Patrick Leahy, author of the
legislation that restricted Egypt, said. “I know Secretary Clinton wants the
democratic transition in Egypt to succeed, but by waiving the conditions we
send a contradictory message.”

Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, argued that the administration must not
release all of the U.S. aid to Egypt for 2012. He warned that once Cairo
receives the $1.3 billion in military aid and $200 million in economic
assistance, the military regime would not have any incentive to implement
reforms.

“Now that Secretary Clinton has decided to use the law’s waiver
authority,” Leahy said, “she should use the flexibility the law provides and
release no more taxpayer funds than is demonstrably necessary, withholding
the rest in the Treasury pending further progress in the transition to
democracy.”

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