# Cutting off aid to Egypt is the law **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 6, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825 "2013-07-06T23:52:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/41 "2013-07-07T20:24:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Even if you are 100% right, _what would you have us do?_ I would have our government agree that it will follow the law. Which means any further aid is discontinued. If there is any new government, that may be revisited. Either that or change the law. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/42 "2013-07-07T20:28:27Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Which means any further aid is discontinued. Which means _according to your reading_ that further aid is discontinued. We haven’t established that you’re correct. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/43 "2013-07-07T20:30:44Z")
I finally got around to reading the _Daily Caller_ article, and it’s actually not bad. It doesn’t say that Obama is pushing for the continuance of aid. It quotes Obama as saying in a statement: > [@Obama statement](#): > > Given today’s developments, I have directed the relevant departments and agencies to review the implications under U.S. law for our assistance to the Government of Egypt. “We need to give this a little thought and see what the law requires” doesn’t sound too frightening to me. The article quotes Cantor and Corker as being similarly circumspect. To its credit, the article also notes: > [@Daily Caller](#): > > If Wednesday’s events are determined to be a coup, President Obama would have to seek “specific statutory waiver authority” from Congress in order to keep payments to Egypt flowing. President Bush received such authority in 2001, when Congress approved assistance to Pakistan’s military government following the September 11th attacks. This suggests that there is a process in place for getting a waiver under this law and that getting such a waiver is hardly a new thing. Finally, the article notes: > [@Daily Caller](#): > > Obvious power grabs by foreign military leaders have usually resulted in the swift restriction of U.S. aid. Last year, American assistance to Mali was terminated \*\*just four days after \*\*disaffected soldiers overthrew the Saharan nation’s civilian government My bold. Just four days? That was fast!! Man, Obama was all over it that time. How long ago was the coup in Egypt, let me ask you that, huh!? Oh, four days ago? Ah. Never mind. This is the stupidest Obama criticism I’ve heard since, probably, Tuesday. Maybe Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/44 "2013-07-07T20:38:56Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > This is the stupidest Obama criticism I’ve heard since, probably, Tuesday. Maybe Monday. Or until **Terr** ’s next one. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/45 "2013-07-07T20:53:51Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Sure. Of course, you “interpret” “anyone who counts” as “anyone who agrees with this particular interpretation”. It’s all in the “interpretation” after all. > > Next you will tell me that the law is “living and breathing”. In this context ‘anyone who counts’ is the president, a significant bloc of senators and/or congressmen, or a significant bloc of voters. So far none of these is taking your position. If anything they’re being astoundingly rational about the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/46 "2013-07-07T21:45:24Z")
Amusingly, of the 1,471 $millions of Aid given to Egypt by America in 2011, 1,298 was devoted to the Egyptian military. **[Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_foreign_aid)** If around 88% of ‘Aid’ is not devoted to people’s welfare, as touchingly presumed by ‘Aid’s’ critics and defenders, but instead goes to prop up the armies that control them, maybe Foreign Aid should be renamed something other. Such as **Mercenary Tribute**. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/47 "2013-07-07T22:09:50Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Amusingly, of the 1,471 $millions of Aid given to Egypt by America in 2011, 1,298 was devoted to the Egyptian military. > > **[Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_foreign_aid)** Dude, you’re like the first person here who didn’t know that. Try to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/48 "2013-07-07T22:51:57Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Dude, you’re like the first person here who didn’t know that. Try to keep up. _You_ may have known that: perhaps you can point out any post earlier in this thread that pointed out that the ‘Aid’ is mostly military. And since I pointed it out, you may be assured that I knew that. Not that I’m criticising. America has it’s ( good ) reasons, and it’s best to feed lions than keep them starved; just that calling it Aid is a trifle self-righteous on both sides. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/49 "2013-07-07T23:06:05Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I would have our government agree that it will follow the law. Which means any further aid is discontinued. If there is any new government, that may be revisited. Either that or change the law. What’s wrong with letting Congress make that decision, which is what appears to be happening? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/50 "2013-07-08T00:29:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What’s wrong with letting Congress make that decision, which is what appears to be happening? If it’s just up to the President and Congress, why have laws? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/51 "2013-07-08T00:31:26Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > If it’s just up to the President and Congress, why have laws? Fuck yeah! If Terr doesn’t have a say, it ain’t really democracy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/52 "2013-07-09T13:52:57Z")
So, reading the news today it looks like there are Senators in both parties who are taking both sides on this. Very complicated. But, it also notes that Obama is the decider as to whether this is a coup or not, so it’s really up to him unless Congress writes a new law. As violence escalates, there really are no good options for us here. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/53 "2013-07-10T23:04:43Z")
> [@](#): > > As violence escalates, there really are no good options for us here. -John Mace Does that not depend upon which side is escalating or will escalate the violence? ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/54 "2013-07-10T23:30:13Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Very complicated. But, it also notes that Obama is the decider as to whether this is a coup or not, so it’s really up to him unless Congress writes a new law. I’ll go with what an Egyptian thinks about it: > [@](#): > > This is a historical revolution and not a coup d’etat or protest movement or outraged uprising. It is a revolution that will continue until all of its goals are realized. > > — > > Nawal El Saadawi is an internationally renowned Egyptian writer who’s writing has influenced five generations of women and men in Egypt and other Arab countries, and paved the way for dissidence, rebellion and revolution. For more than four decades she has suffered under Egyptian political and religious authorities, which has led to imprisonment, exile, death threats and court trials. Read More: > **[Egypt: A People’s Revolution, Not a Crisis or Coup (Nawal El Saadawi)](https://www.juancole.com/2013/07/peoples-revolution-saadawi.html)** > > Nawal El Saadawi Nawal El Saadawi writes at IslamiCommentary (translated by miriam cooke) Every revolution in history has had its counter-revolution. Most recently, internal and external forces allied, as they did in Egypt, to abort the January 2011... ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/55 "2013-07-11T02:44:40Z")
It doesn’t follow that democratically elected leads to democratic governance. The law was poorly written, but should be followed anyway. I’d hope both sides of the isle would get their shit together to legally give the president the tools he needs for an outcome in Egypt remotely good for us and them. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/56 "2013-07-11T13:40:19Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > If it’s just up to the President and Congress, why have laws? Did you skip civics they day they covered legislation? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/57 "2013-07-11T17:21:34Z")
If civics class covered the part where the executive branch doesn’t have to carry out the laws if the President doesn’t feel like it, I must have missed it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/58 "2013-07-11T17:44:07Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If civics class covered the part where the executive branch doesn’t have to carry out the laws if the President doesn’t feel like it, I must have missed it. > > Regards, > Shodan Then you should go back to class. There is no means to force the President to act. The congress can remove him from office if they don’t like what he’s doing, or not doing. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/59 "2013-07-11T18:07:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If civics class covered the part where the executive branch doesn’t have to carry out the laws if the President doesn’t feel like it, I must have missed it. No, that would be the part where the executive branch doesn’t have to carry out the laws if _Congress_ doesn’t feel like it. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825/60 "2013-07-11T19:07:54Z")
- Meanwhile, the restoration of power, disappearance of gas lines, and immediate deployment of police forces after the last week’s military takeover suggest that remnants of Hosni Mubarak’s regime played a significant role in undermining Morsy’s prior to his ouster. “This was preparing for the coup,” Naser el-Farash, a spokesman for the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade under Mr. Morsy told the New York Times. “Different circles in the state, from the storage facilities to the cars that transport petrol products to the gas stations, all participated in creating the crisis.” \* - Despite the unrest, American officials indicated on Wednesday that they plan to move ahead with the delivery of four new F-16 fighter jets to Egypt as part of the United States’ annual military assistance.\* **[ForeignPolicy.com](http://walk.foreignpolicy.com/taxonomy/term/37/node/node/8158)** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-off-aid-to-egypt-is-the-law/662825.md?page=4)