F.A.Q. on U.S. Aid to Egypt: Where Does the Money Go—And Who Decides How It’s Spent?

propublica.org ^ | 7/9/2013 | Marian Wang and Theodoric Meyer

[RoosterRedux]

The recent military coup in Egypt has prompted a renewed debate about American aid to the country. Sens. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, and Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, have both called for cutting off aid, while the White House has said it’s in no hurry to end the aid.

We've taken a step back and tried to answer some basic questions, including how much the U.S. is giving Egypt, what's changed in the two years since the Arab Spring and who is benefiting from all the money.

How much does the U.S. spend on Egypt?

Egypt receives more U.S. foreign aid than any country except for Israel, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq.

The exact amount varies from year to year and there are many different funding streams, but U.S. foreign assistance to Egypt has averaged about $2 billion a year since 1979, when Egypt struck a peace treaty with Israel.

Let's start with the military aid. How much is it, and what does it buy?

Military aid — which comes through a funding stream known as Foreign Military Financing — has held steady at about $1.3 billion since 1987. Economic aid, on the other hand, has fallen by more than two-thirds since 1998.

American officials have long argued that the military aid promotes strong ties between the American and Egyptian militaries, which gives the U.S. all kinds of benefits. U.S. Navy warships, for instance, get "expedited processing" when they pass through the Suez Canal.

Here's a 2009 U.S. embassy cable released by WikiLeaks that makes essentially the same point:

[RoosterRedux]

This is an older (1+ month) article but it is of particular interesting at this time.

[cripplecreek]

I stand in exactly the same place I did a week ago.

Aid to Egypt and a whole list of other nations needs to be cut. PERIOD

[Paladin2]

I suspect much of the military aid to Egypt is in the form of military hardware procured from American Defense Contractors and thus corporate welfare rather than a transfer of “free” $$ to Egypt.

[Chode]

i'll say it again, i am against air to all but a hand full of countries

as to the others we DO give aid, it should be in the form of FINISHED GOODS so the actual dollars stay here in America!!!

[Bluestocking]

Thanks to years of Arab-Spring bumbling by the Obama administration, the U.S. is now in the strategically weak position of needing MORE from Egypt than Egypt needs from us.

Saudi Arabia and Russia have stepped in to support the new Egyptian government with sufficient money for it to stabilize the country and protect itself militarily.

So, since Egypt doesn’t need us anymore, how are we supposed to ensure that the Suez Canal and its associated shipping lanes are kept open? We don’t even have a diplomatic presence in Egypt anymore since we closed our embassy. At this point, the president of the United States has no more influence on Egyptian policy than the presidents of Monaco or Lichtenstein.

It was nice being a superpower once, but in the age of Obama we’ve lost all pretense to such a designation.

[mylife]

Tut! Tut! My FRiend! The Suez is of no importance to us.
I read it on FR.

[GreyHoundSailor]

That’s true, but it isn’t ‘exactly’ like the same stuff we use.

[cripplecreek]

We’re broke and borrowing money to give to others and quite frankly I find blind trust in the Egyptian government and military to be foolish.

Frankly if we’re going to spend money we don’t have on Egypt we should be spending it on evacuating and relocating the Copts. Even bringing them here and supporting them for a while would be more cost effective than aid to Egypt. They’re truly devout Christians and truly are industrious people who don’t kill their children. A few hundred thousand more in Detroit might work wonders.

I sent an Email to the Michigan Coptic center in Grand Rapids and St Mark’s in Detroit today to ask about rescue orgs and if there were volunteer programs I could help with.

[Paladin2]

"it isn’t ‘exactly’ like the same stuff we use."

For a relatively brief period in the 70's I worked at a place that made electronic military hardware. Some of that "stuff" went to Israel. We tested the Israel bound "stuff" without some of the cards that were proprietary to Israel and wre installed after shipment.

[Paladin2]

The Arabic concentration in Dearborn started with Christian "Palestinians" relocating there in the 50's and 60's.

Jihadis came later.

[cripplecreek]

Middle eastern Christians still outnumber muslims by a wide margin in the area. The Muslims have concentrated in Dearborn. Some Coptic Orgs in Michigan.

http://www.stmarkmi.org/ Troy

http://thecopticcenter.org/ Grand Rapids

http://stmarymi.org/ St Marry & St Mina Grand Rapids

http://www.stmarkacademy.org/index.html Troy

[OregonRancher]

Cash never changes hands. We send them arms, food, ag machinery, all to help US firms.

[bert]

I provided materials for construction projects in Egypt managed by an American contractor who bought the specified materials in America

The projects were designed by American architects and engineers

[FreeReign]

I suspect much of the military aid to Egypt is in the form of military hardware procured from American Defense Contractors and thus corporate welfare rather than a transfer of “free” $$ to Egypt.

The current administration couldn't care less about American defense contractors. The sooner they go under the better for them.

[SunkenCiv]

Rand Slams Congress for Funding Egypt’s Generals:
‘How Does Your Conscience Feel Now?’
Foreign Policy | 15 Aug 2013 | John Hudson
Posted on 08/15/2013 5:44:10 PM PDT by Hoodat
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3055253/posts

Sen. Rand Paul is hammering his fellow senators for keeping billions in financial aid flowing to Egypt’s military — even as Cairo’s security forces massacre anti-government activists.

[RoosterRedux]

What is wrong with Congress? Egypt’s military rescued the country from Islamic Radicals who wanted to return the country to the 7th century...and our Congress wants to withdraw our support?

[SunkenCiv]

Congress won’t cut Egypt’s aid — as a face-saving measure, there may be some kind of non-binding, pointless resolution condemning the bloodshed. As far as what’s wrong with Rand, he’s a demagogue who’s also running for president.

[roadcat]

Stop aid to Egypt and other haters of America, now! We need the money for Sociial Security, and the system is broke. If this stupid government won’t stop wasting money here at home on welfare crap, the least they can do is stop welfare to other countries and keep the money here. I’m tired of paying taxes with no say about how it’s spent.