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Subscribe to RSSDAVOS, Switzerland -- President Barack Obama plans to accelerate the pace of American aid to Egypt by redirecting non-urgent aid slated for other countries, a top U.S. diplomat said Wednesday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum, Undersecretary of State Robert Hormats said Washington wants to provide more immediate benefits to the most populous Arab nation, which earlier this month conducted its first democratic elections in decades.
Besides redirecting some foreign aid, funding in the pipeline for long-term programs in Egypt would be shifted to quick-impact projects, Hormats said.
Related: Huge crowd gathers in Cairo
Congress approved $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt for the current fiscal year, but with conditions attached. It also approved $250 million in economic aid, as well as an "enterprise fund" of up to $60 million.
It was unclear whether the total amount of U.S. aid to Egypt would be increased.
"Whether it's an increase or whether it's reprioritizing existing assistance, we're still working this out," Hormats said.
Also, he said, the White House had not made any decisions and that he was providing Washington's "broad thinking" on the subject.
The United States wants to be seen as doing more to assist a hoped-for democratic evolution in Egypt, where the military still holds ultimate power on the first anniversary of protests that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, Hormats said.
Photos: One year on, Egyptians fill Tahrir Square again
In his State of the Union address Tuesday, Obama said the United States had a "huge stake in the outcome" of the revolutions that have swept the Arab world but offered no concrete proposals for additional assistance.
Retuers contributed to this report.
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Quit taking my money and giving it to other countries.
Why are we still giving military aid to a country with no leaders. Who could very well end up our enemy.
Feel free to ship back that social security check you took from me, Justin. THEN you can complain.
Does Obama know that innocent Christians are being killed in Egypt? Does he know that innocent Muslims who come to the aid of Christians are being killed too? Egypt has taken a step backwards and Obama wants to give the military government money that the US does not have.
I hope there is a way to stop Obama from giving Egypt money.
His Muslim roots are showing.
Oh No problem Mr. Obama, by all means give the fledgling soon to be terrorist state all the money you can. How about 1 trillion dollars for starters, no make that 2 trillion, heck its only money. Where was this request in your State Of The Union Address? Better start looking for a new home now because come January 21st 2013 or there about, you'll be out on the street.
Toasty, I believe Justin has every right to complain. That is HIS money, not yours, and certainly not Egypt's. Social Security is money we paid into the social security fund throughout our working careers. It didn't fall into the government coffers from the magic money tree that you liberals feel is the source of government revenue. No that was money taken from us to be given out as the government sees fit, and in this case, how stupid is the man in the oval office?
Doesn't change the fact that you are taking my money. Usually at the same time you accuse me of wanting a handout...
What the hel@ are you talking about toasty?? His s.s. money is his. Paid for by hard work for 40 to 50 years . What do you have to do with that? Just shut your mouth, and get a dam# job!
Toast: Justin is taking your money? Really? Obama is taking your money and giving it to Egypt, doubt Justin has any say whatsoever on where said money goes. Obama could take money and give it to known terrorists and you'd be ok with that, which is fine, since you also have no say in where your money goes.
Kinda nice knowing that you exist as a cash cow for the government, isn't it?
President Obama:
Listen to the people: "NO!" "Nein!" "Nyet!" "Nay!" "Uh-Uh!" "Nope!" "Don't do it!" "Stop!"
Think about the struggling people in your own country first...PLEASE SIR!
IT WILL GAIN YOU VOTES...I PROMISE IT WILL! I GARAUN-DAM-TEE IT SIR!
The US really must want access to their resources. Only reason I can see why they would be so giving.
All I'm pointing out is that it's hypocritical for someone to complain about their money when they're taking mine.
Toasty:
Obama's in agreement that Justin should have his say on the vine AND receive whatever money that is coming to him.
You're sounding just like some kind of rabid republican...give it up! The argument is lost...unless it's coming from me!
Trust me Sarcasticus, I'm no Republican...
Toasty:
Of that, I am certain. :-) I've read many, many of your posts.
This particular post seems uncharacteristic of your political leanings.
Just taking advantage of a rare opportunity.
Regards
Hey SCUMBAG of a president, pay for it out of your own pocket your handlers (MUSLIMS) are paying you to screw this country into the ground. Also, it sure sounds like some of the libs are even getting fed up with your sorry butt.
I'm just sick of being accused of wanting a handout... By people who are literally taking my money while they do it.
And the left wing nuts want to give this guy 4 more years to steal Americans money to give it to one of the richest country's in the world?? NO WAY!
Egypt may become a democracy OR a terrorist state. The difference will be the help she gets. By all means invest now in a brighter future. If it still goes the other way, at least we did our best.
No More aid, can't these idiots in Wash. DC ever get it through thier heads that we can not buy the world. We helped Egypt get rid of a so called tyrant and they thank us by detaining American aid workers from leaving the country and what does BO want to do, send more money for them to buy weapons to use against us. We are the ones funding terrorism around the world.
it's better to stop ALL aid to countries that hate us, this includes food aid as well. Let these people fend for themselves or wipe each other out, then we can come back and mop up.
Unfortunately, common sense is not a mandatory requirement to work in U.S. government.
How a bout some aid to Americans?
Campaign for OBAMA IF you want: More OWS, More Bankruptcies, More Government Agencies, More Regulations, even higher taxes (Federal, State, County, City, Town, School, Utility, etc.) , Higher gas and Energy prices, More Class Warfare, More Inflation, Less net income, No Budget in 3 years(which is required by the constitution), More wasted Stimulus-$$$Trillions debt, More abuse of the American Constitution, Un-Congressional and Constitutional Wars, More Economic failure, Printing More Money, More Government Regulations,Cronyism-$$$ Billions, OBAMACARE, Backroom Deals,Illegal Immigration,Illegal Government Gun Sales causing the death of American and Mexican Citizens, Increasing Historic Budget deficits, More Quality Jobs Destroyed, Another Credit Downgrade, Another 50 Million on welfare, More foreclosures, Lower home values, Restricted Internet Services, More voter fraud, More voter intimidation, More jobs sent overseas, Attacks on our States (Immigration laws,Voter ID, Obamacare), More CZARS, More Broken Promises, More Foreign Influence, More U.N. control, Continued loss of Citizen Rights, More bank failures, Another housing disaster, NO attempt to reduce the Debt, More Food Stamps!!!, More Cash for Clunker failures, Four more years of calling Americans Racists and Lazy, A President that blames everyone and has NO LEADERSHIP to work with Congress!!!!
Bounce, aid for Americans was SH** canned a long time ago. OUR government doesn't care about you or me. The proof is in the pudding. If they cared in the little tiniest bit, they would quit sending OUR tax dollars to everyone else, and use that money here at home to create jobs, which in turn keeps people in their homes, keeps families out of the unemployment lines, feeds families daily, and boosts the local and country's economy. But it is clearly obvious that they do not even have a plan for helping us, the middle class citizens of the good ole USA. We've been put in the trash can. No longer important. They spend all their time arguing about which other country needs our money. Their words to get elected say improve the economy, but their actions are telling us that we really aren't even on their radar. Why else would they send billions of aid money around the world, and do nothing to help us out of the mire that they put us in??
Giving money to Egypt is as ridiculous and unhealthy for America as Newts idiotic remark about building a moon colony. Both are money pits that once you throw hard earned much needed at home American money at at, it disappears into oblivion forever and WE ( you and I ) get NOTHING for it except more empty promises about how they are gonna turn things around for main street. Totally ignoring the fact that they could have helped, but crap,,,,We just gave that money to Egypt. ......Sorry bout your luck.
Build some bridges here in America Obama and gain our trust! Fix some roads, feed the hungry, give medical aid to the needy. Build homes for those without roofs -- HERE IN AMERICA.
Dave, he tried that. The Republicans called him a Socialist and defeated all his bills.
Yeah, I don't think Obama can be accused of not wanting to help out with domestic spending.
Of course, some of us would rather just keep our money...
Wait a minute.....what about Libya (we just sent 12,000 troops there), Algeria, Syria, Yemen, and all the other Arab Spring nations ?
Time to approach Congress to raise the debt ceiling again even though Mr. Obama is "re-directing" funding for "other" aid.
I didn't hear about 12,000 troops to Libya. tell me more.
Yeah, I want to know about those troops sent to Libya as well. He DID send a large contingency of troops to the Pacific and the Phillippines, he's rattling a saber or two at China, which, BTW, is kinda scary.
guys google u.s. troop in lybia i believe the number is 1,200 but that is more then should be there....
Didn't i just read that the muslim brother hood is part of egypt? Why would we want to give aid to the muslim brother hood?? I must be missing something right??? Congress aproved 1.3 billion plus 60 million plus 350 million for one year? What the f--- are we doing???? that is 1.6 plus billion dollars and he wants to borrow 1.5 trillion???? my god please someone tell me this is all a typo.. this article says obama wants to boost aid... congress already is giving them 1.6 billion why would you want to give them more.... Americas economy must be doing so much better then what i see...
The Muslim Brotherhood is big in American prisons too. And don't forget they were standing outside a polling station, with clubs in their hands, in the election that put Obama in office. They may be giving them money to keep them from attacking Israel. You know . . . it's kinda like paying blackmail.
Fred, what that another of your famed "rectum-derived" statistics?
Toasty, please make sure you can actually spell before you comment. Thanks.
Excuse me, "was." Now if you'll please stop trying to change the subject...
Um, it was the New Black Panthers at the polling stations, not the Muslim Brotherhood. There are similarities between the two groups but in order to keep the facts straight....
Yeah, all two of them.
Egypt is being taken over by the hard core Islamist Muslim Brotherhood. They want to control the planet! don't give them a cent.
They're just the Tea Party of Egypt. Popular in some circles, but powerless in reality.
Toasty, you are the only lib to show up here. Welcome. How do you rationalize continued support of the Egyptian Millitary?
Well, aren't we eager to change the subject?
I thought money was the subject. Pick a topic. I would enjoy a little debating. I see you hear all the time, I know you are well trained in liberal Jedi combat. Sometimes you actually convince me to change my mind on some things.
Toasty? You just doing a drive by or a hit and run today? Come Back Toasty.
Fred talked about the "Muslim Brotherhood." I responded with a post about the "Muslim Brotherhood." Then you attempted to change the subject.
Um, so you're not attempting to change the subject by injecting hyperbolic and inane statements? The Muslim Brotherhood is slated to take most of the elections and while many in the group are rabid and extreme Islamic fanatics, it doesn't mean they should get any aid money from Obama.
Sorry MG, but nobody in the know thinks they're anything as powerful as the paranoid right keeps proclaiming.
So we help Egypt because it keeps the peace with Israel. Then they collapse and are saber rattling with Israel. so we continue the money, add more money and speed up payments. Obama must be a genius.
We give them money to ensure Egypt doesn't become another Somalia. You don't pirates ruling over the Suez Canal, do you?
Wait, is there oil there?
I was reading they're a large exporter of natural gas.
Not really. They're more into large workforces and tourism. Less about the natural resources.
Which is a shame; it's much harder to get your economy running without them (though Israel manages just fine).
November can't come too soon.
how about if we just send a check to the muslim brotherhood?
Good call. Cut out the middle man. Maybe we can start making roadside bombs for them to. You know, so there not built with child labor.
Giving aid to the Muslim Brotherhood only frees up their assets thus enabling them to further assist their favorite Muslim extremist organization. Not a good idea; almost treasonous.
My analogy is this:
If a neighbor beats up my son, I don't think I would buy his best friend a gun !!!
IMPEACH OBAMA !!! He should be called into question, and have to answer for this !
I think they were being sarcastic.
No money for those who, in their heart of hearts, want us dead. Solve your own problems, maggots.
Obama shows his true colors by befriending the Islamist leader of Turkey while at the same time letting slip how much he hates Netanyahu, the leader of our friend and ally, Israel. Now he wants to give (more) money to a country led by the group that gave AQ its' inspiration?
This administration is like a recurring bad dream that somehow gets progressively worse.
Iran is now delivering Weapons of Mass Destruction to the Assad Regime. Russia is selling them fighter jets and a coastal missile defence system. I wonder what Barrack's response will be. Last night he was talking tough with Iran and China. If he Takes on Iran then I might vote for him again. If he lets Assad start gassing his people he is the P.O.S. I thought he was.
i think obama should have bet on a different horse,with a little help libya could be a country with free health care,not the same as universal.also no public debt and cheap university.
Maybe we could borrow more money from China so Libyans could have free health care!
That would free up more assets so they could bomb more airliners, then China and Russia could put more of their people to work building jets, bombs, guns and ammo for the Muslim Brotherhood as they will have even more liquid assets.
We can keep eating peanuts in the unemployment line.
Great idea!
Why the hell should we Americans pay for the healthcare of a bunch of Muslims when I don't even have healthcare?
These are the same frincking people who were cheering as they watched our brothers and sisters jumping from the World Trade Center 9/11 attacks. as their police, military and civilians murder Christians as they leave church as they are being sprayed with bullets in their pews.
I am not a religious man, but this is wrong. BHO should be taken into custody and tried for treason if he gives them even one dollar.
funny how health care is not a hot topic anymore.
Even funnier is having to wait until after elections to see how it works.
Ask China for the aid we are broke and clearly Obama does not get it
Obama can give them all he wants from the budget surplus. Otherwise one does not borrow money and give it away. That is ridiculous!
Bigfoot and the toothfairy want to know, 'What is this thing you call a budget surplus?'
leroy2112 -
That would be the extra money he has after borrowing all he could borrow from China Leroy.
is the new aid to egypt more than was needed before,if so why,and why do we care to send any aid.
sure, give more money away to countries that don't support american interests anyway..
sure, say no to job-creation like the keystone pipeline..
he can make good speeches, but actually DOING anything productive for America?? haha, right. (well, there is golf...)
sure, just keep borrowing money and raise the debt ceiling.. eventually the debt might just somehow disappear right?
funny how the media never has anything bad to say about obama, but always bad things to say about republicans..
wtf? Egypt? Meanwhile Rome burns. Does $15,000,000,000,000+ in the hole mean anything to you folks?
We spend $10,000,000,000.00 a week in interest.
your credit rating does not go down because of gross debt or political fights.it goes down when interest payments start to increase without a big deal on the horizon.
Borrow from Peter to pay Paul then give Paul's payment to akmed so he can build a bomb to kill you so you don't have to pay Peter. Sounds reasonable.
Did the US keep making paymants to Iran after thier ally, the Shah was deposed? Its a strange world we live in. It seems that the answer to every problem is to write a check and hope for the best. This is a politicians first and last recourse.
mind boggling, huh?
a politician who brings up hard to face facts will not get elected and will never be heard from again.
America is $14 trillion in debt and Obama wants to send more money out of the country. But the money will be sent to subsidize a newly emerging radical Islamic regime in Egypt. This is Obama's agenda: ruin America while propping up radical Islamic regimes. We must send Obama packing in the upcoming election if we want to save America.
A more sensible take would be that Obama's "agenda" is to try and influence a young country taking shape to stay on America's side as it starts exploring international relations for the first time from a democratic perspective. That seems far more likely than him being out to ruin his own nation.
Of course, that doesn't always work. Pakistan is a shambles despite US money propping it up, and they loathe us and do everything they can get away with to frustrate our goals in the region.
Not saying that it's a good idea, but I support intellectual honesty.
do the egyptians get to vote in the next election,still think he should have put his money on libya.
To hell with all you people.
A holes need not apply to the vine.
Gary American -
Exactly which Muslim Extremist country do you think we should give the most money to.
The one building atomic bombs and their delivery systems, the one that was hiding Osama Bin Ladin, the one spraying his people with bullets daily, the one that every day is hunting season for Coptic Christians, or maybe we could find any Muslim country that has no human rights at all to give the borrowed money to.
Hell, why don't we just aid China with the money; we could help them build more centrifuge parts to sell to Iran.
We have people here in the United States that need help.
KEEP THE MONEY AT HOME / WE DID NOT BORROW IT TO GIVE TO EVERYBODY !!!
Hussein the Muslim Sympathizer wants to "boost aid to Egypt quickly." Of course our FAILURE-in-Chief does. the Muslim Brotherhood is waiting and his time is SHORT.
why do we keeping running from peace in the Middle East ... we pay the Israelies 3 billion annually for the past 50 years plus other military give-aways in military equipment, then we invade Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya and tried to go into Somolia but gave it up, now we are trying to bribe the new owners in Egypt like we did Mubarak when he was in power. All the while we are kicking sand in the faces of the Iranins, trying to get them to fight us ... and now the price of gasoline is beginning to rise again ...somehow this doesn't make any sense unless the zionist-christians are pulling some strings with their allegiance to Israel guiding their motives. If we come out of this still a nation it will be a miracle.
Blame the jews. Seriously Why would Zionist want more money to go to the new Egypt?
careful judson who you pick as friends and enemies.without jews isreal would just be another part of the desert.a democracy in that part of the world is truely unusual and as you see it not worth supporting.you may be right in which case i think all isrealis should be given land on the southern border.no need for border security,fulfill all immigration obligations,and make america a smarter country.
Judson, Every time I hear from you, you are for the bad guys. What the hell is wrong with you?
Sonar guy. Good call
So... you contend that if the United States didn't support Israel or involve itself militarily in the Middle East, there would be peace there?
Do you seriously believe that? Really? I mean, I'm not saying that America's done the right thing or that it would necessarily be worse without us, but "running away from peace"? What a joke.