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Africa North
US lawmakers want to cut aid after Egypt 'massacre'
2013-08-19
[Al Ahram] US politicians on Sunday called for cutting off military aid to Egypt after its security forces killed hundreds of supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi in a four-day "massacre."

US Senator John Maverick McCain
... the Senator-for-Life from Arizona, former presidential candidate and even more former foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution...
, who called for suspending the $1.3 billion in annual aid to the military after it overthrew Morsi in early July, said Washington risked losing credibility if it continued to turn a blind eye to the bloody crackdown.

"They have orchestrated a massacre," he said, after the four-day corpse count from mass shootings and street festivities climbed to more than 750 people.

"We have no credibility. We do have influence, but when you don't use that influence, then you do not have that influence," McCain, a Republican hawk and frequent critic of Obama's foreign policy, told CNN's "State of the Union."

McCain suggested Washington could pressure Egypt's generals by cutting off aid, spare parts for US-made military equipment and backing for an International Monetary Fund loan to relieve the country's devastated economy.

"For us to sit by and watch this happen is a violation of everything that we stand for," he said.

Senator Rand Paul, a rising star in the Republican Party, also called for cutting off aid, saying on "Fox News Sunday": "I don't think we are buying any love of the Egyptian people when they see an American tank on the street."
This administration has no coin left with which to buy anyone's goodwill over there, never mind love. Perhaps the next president will be able to find a reset button.
Posted by:Fred

#14  Great. Our vaunted politicians can be tricked by savages.
Posted by: gorb   2013-08-19 21:05  

#13  you were talking about a foreign, overseas adversary, right Glen.
Yeah, Besoeker. But when you think about it, it could apply to the current domestic political situation as well - there are worse things than gridlock, namely pretty much anything either side proposes.
Posted by: Glenmore   2013-08-19 20:26  

#12  Fund whoever is losing...... Never provide weaponry you cannot easily defend yourself against. (And provide unlimited birth control and abortion aid...) Posted by Glenmore

We're familiar with the huh.....strategy, but you were talking about a foreign, overseas adversary, right Glen.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-08-19 19:48  

#11  Fund whoever is losing. Apply to all intra-Muslim conflicts. Never provide weaponry you cannot easily defend yourself against. (And provide unlimited birth control and abortion aid...)
Posted by: Glenmore   2013-08-19 19:38  

#10  My bad.
Posted by: Pappy   2013-08-19 18:28  

#9  Kentucky pappy.
Posted by: Beavis   2013-08-19 18:21  

#8  When it comes to our current regime and its Dem and Rino enablers I find myself limited to the word "DESPICABLE". May they all rot in hell, starting ASAP.
Posted by: AlanC   2013-08-19 12:38  

#7  ..someone didn't learn about the long term consequences of not supporting the Shah. Sometimes in history its about backing the least odious choice.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-08-19 08:12  

#6  Maybe if the prez had supported the same Egyptian president as so many other US Presidents, instead of hanging Mubarak out to dry - like the second-worst-president-in-history.
Posted by: Bobby   2013-08-19 06:17  

#5  Ohh, meant to say shut up McGram
Posted by: newc   2013-08-19 01:57  

#4  They have orchestrated a massacre

Not enough of one so far---remember Algerian civil war, senator?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2013-08-19 01:53  

#3  Yep, like the US has any moral authority or leverage any more. Thanks to O and to you and fellow dems and rinos.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2013-08-19 01:21  

#2  You mean an "overcharge" button? I'm so confused
Posted by: newc   2013-08-19 01:14  

#1  McCain suggested Washington could pressure Egypt's generals by cutting off aid, spare parts for US-made military equipment and backing for an International Monetary Fund loan to relieve the country's devastated economy

Might as well. The generals are lining up for business-trip flights to Moscow. The Sauds and others are, for now, ready with their checkbooks.

"For us to sit by and watch this happen is a violation of everything that we stand for"

What do we stand for, Senator? More specifically, what do you stand for? You didn't earn your sobriquet back when you were a fighter jock.

I will guarantee that "sit by and watch this happen" is exactly what will occur. And you will let this and a hundred other 'outrages' slip by until you're voted out, retired, or recalled, because things like 'bipartisanship' for you are more important.

"I don't think we are buying any love of the Egyptian people when they see an American tank on the street"

We're not gonna get any love when the Russian tanks show up either. Sometimes the esteemed Senator from Tennessee is as dense as his dad.
Posted by: Pappy   2013-08-19 00:16  

00:00