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An op-ed written by former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft and Eric D.K. Melby who served on the National Security Council staff makes a strong case that the U.S. focus its aid to Egypt with the goal of helping Egypt regain economic and political stability. The op-ed argues that such an outcome is in the interests of the U.S.
Excerpts:
Debating what label to put on the recent events deters from the truly important task: developing a strategy to support the restoration of Egypt’s economic and political stability. President Obama’s call for a reassessment of U.S. aid should focus primarily on how we can help Egypt, rather than on whether we should help...
Egypt remains the most important country in the Arab world because of its history, its population, its economy and its example. Helping it achieve its goals at this critical juncture clearly is in America’s interest and that of the international community. The United States is in a unique position — by virtue of its international influence and time-tested relationship with Egypt — to convene the relevant parties and to stimulate action. It also has a unique responsibility to do so.
Egypt needs our help now more than ever - The Washington Post
IMO, Scowcroft and Melby have made a far more coherent argument than those based on emotional appeals that "democracy" in Egypt was set back and, therefore, the U.S. should suspend assistance. The latter arguments assume that Egypt had become a democracy prior to the recent events. It had not. It held elections, but the deposed President refused to respect separation of powers in unilaterally overriding the nation's high court. He had put the nation on a path of increasing Islamization that ran counter to Egypt's longstanding tradition as a moderate and secular state. Ultimately, what happened in Egypt is strictly an Egyptian affair.
The U.S. can and should play a constructive role in helping Egypt in its period of transition. It should resist the temptation to succumb to emotional appeals that risk damaging U.S. interests with respect to Egypt, interests that are far more compelling and far more critical than anything related to Syria.
Excerpts:
Debating what label to put on the recent events deters from the truly important task: developing a strategy to support the restoration of Egypt’s economic and political stability. President Obama’s call for a reassessment of U.S. aid should focus primarily on how we can help Egypt, rather than on whether we should help...
Egypt remains the most important country in the Arab world because of its history, its population, its economy and its example. Helping it achieve its goals at this critical juncture clearly is in America’s interest and that of the international community. The United States is in a unique position — by virtue of its international influence and time-tested relationship with Egypt — to convene the relevant parties and to stimulate action. It also has a unique responsibility to do so.
Egypt needs our help now more than ever - The Washington Post
IMO, Scowcroft and Melby have made a far more coherent argument than those based on emotional appeals that "democracy" in Egypt was set back and, therefore, the U.S. should suspend assistance. The latter arguments assume that Egypt had become a democracy prior to the recent events. It had not. It held elections, but the deposed President refused to respect separation of powers in unilaterally overriding the nation's high court. He had put the nation on a path of increasing Islamization that ran counter to Egypt's longstanding tradition as a moderate and secular state. Ultimately, what happened in Egypt is strictly an Egyptian affair.
The U.S. can and should play a constructive role in helping Egypt in its period of transition. It should resist the temptation to succumb to emotional appeals that risk damaging U.S. interests with respect to Egypt, interests that are far more compelling and far more critical than anything related to Syria.