Egypt no longer considered US ally

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

It's the end of an era for the US and Egypt's close partnership from the mouth of one of the most powerful men in the world. In todays news, after recent events, President Obama gave an interview to the Spanish speaking channel Telemundo and said Egypt is no longer considered an ally, but it's not considered an enemy either. He goes on to explain his reasoning in the article quoted below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says the U.S. would not consider Egypt an ally, "but we don't consider them an enemy."

Obama said in an interview with the Spanish-language network Telemundo that Egypt is a "new government that is trying to find its way." He warns that if the Egyptian government takes actions showing "they're not taking responsibility," then it would "be a real big problem."

The president discussed the Middle East Wednesday in the aftermath of protests at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo that led to crowds climbing the embassy walls and tearing down an American flag. It coincided with attacks on the U.S. consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi that led to the killing of the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.

The White House said that Obama called the presidents of Libya and Egypt and urged them to continue working with the United States to ensure the safety of diplomatic personnel.

Obama thanked Libyan President Mohamed Magariaf for his condolences over the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other State Department officers during an assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi Tuesday. The White House says the two leaders agreed to work together to bring the attackers to justice.

During a second call Tuesday, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi promised that Egypt "would honor its obligation to ensure the safety of American personnel," the White House said.

Obama told Morsi that while "he rejects efforts to denigrate Islam ... there is never any justification for violence against innocents."

Link

[msheesha 548]

Interesting use of quotes in the article. They don't use quotes around the US would not consider Egypt an ally. But they do use quotes around "we don't consider them an enemy".

[dandk 72]

It's the end of an era for the US and Egypt's close partnership from the mouth of one of the most powerful men in the world. In todays news, after recent events, President Obama gave an interview to the Spanish speaking channel Telemundo and said Egypt is no longer considered an ally, but it's not considered an enemy either. He goes on to explain his reasoning in the article quoted below.

If no longer considered ally, then we should stop giving them $1.8 billion per year. That fund has better usage here in the States...

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

If no longer considered ally, then we should stop giving them $1.8 billion per year. That fund has better usage here in the States...

The House is voting on cutting spending to Egypt and Libya today. Link

Some Egyptians I've spoken with said, "Good". In other words getting the American money out of our politics is preferred.

However another friend living in Egypt has said that without that money they may see starvation in Egypt. They paid 7 LE for a kilo of tomatoes last week and was happy to find them because there are hardly any vegetables at the souks like potatoes, eggplant, onions and occasional artichokes. They haven't seen cucumbers in awhile. The local guys selling vegetables at the end of every street are closing up because vegetables are hard to find and so expensive people avoid buying them. Lettuce is a hot commodity and when it shows up in a big box at a store they facebook each other message so they can run and get it. Fruit is cheaper than vegetables. Water bottling plants have been shut down and bottled water is also in short supply and expensive. A kilo of cheap meat is around 70 LE.

Egypt imports food to feed their nearly 90 million people and that's not counting the refugees from neighboring war torn countries that are flocking in. In other words Egypt can't afford to say no to US aid.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

U.S. aid was based on the peace treaty with Israel - a bribe, if you will. However, the person who had accepted the bribes for the past 30+ years is now serving life in prison for premeditated murder of protestors, corruption and abuse of power. He is still under investigation for possible complicity in the murder of Anwar Sadat.

So that deal is off, and any future aid (bribe) would be dependent on a future deal.

[why not1 5]

From many Egyptians groups on Facebook, they are saying the money never leaves the military. That it does not help the people there, in any shape or form. To bad they don't grow there own food. They still have some of the most fertile soil. I know the river Nile don't food anymore like it use, because of the dam for hydro power. But seems wrong to not too. But that was from the regime, so hopefully that will change, or I pray it does.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

From many Egyptians groups on Facebook, they are saying the money never leaves the military. That it does not help the people there, in any shape or form. To bad they don't grow there own food. They still have some of the most fertile soil. I know the river Nile don't food anymore like it use, because of the dam for hydro power. But seems wrong to not too. But that was from the regime, so hopefully that will change, or I pray it does.

The U.S. money poured into Egypt for the last 30 years went into Mubarak's Swiss bank accounts and into those of his family members, and also to high-level military guys who enforced his grip on power for so long. Obviously, the money should have been used for the benefit of Egypt's people - and primarily to develop jobs. The country has a wealth of college graduates, but there aren't nearly enough jobs for them. Egypt doesn't need oil or more agricultural land to become an economic success - it needs to invest in building high-tech Egyptian industries to utilize the Egyptian brain power that's being wasted.

[Ihavequestions 419]

From many Egyptians groups on Facebook, they are saying the money never leaves the military. That it does not help the people there, in any shape or form.

Of course it does. "The money" is based on the peace accord with Israel, also known as "food for peace," and it's entirely separate from the fat stack of cash the US sends for military aid.

Meanwhile, the "food for peace" money most surely benefits the people of Egypt. The military operates production facilities (employing Egyptians) that produce a variety of consumable goods, from macaroni products to cooking oil. On that note, every Egyptian family, regardless of their income, is entitled to f-r-e-e rice, tea, sugar, cooking oil. They show their family ID card, grab their heap of food stuff, and go home. No money exchanges hands. Also, that "food for peace" money subsidizes bread at the government bakeries, bread which, by the way, has increased to 20% corn because wheat has become so expensive and in rather short supply.

To bad they don't grow there own food. They still have some of the most fertile soil. I know the river Nile don't food anymore like it use, because of the dam for hydro power. But seems wrong to not too. But that was from the regime, so hopefully that will change, or I pray it does.

The regime had nothing to do with the High Dam in Aswan. That was Nasser's baby.

[Ihavequestions 419]

The country has a wealth of college graduates, but there aren't nearly enough jobs for them.

The university education system is, for the most part, a joke. I've spent the past three months trying to hire someone who could do high school level math. Who applied? Engineering graduates. The best any of them could do was 16% on a high school level math test - basic Algebra and Trigonometry. There's a good reason most of them are unemployed; they're unemployable. I'm certainly not blaming them; what I'm saying is the educational system, as a whole, is woefully inadequate.

[SarAyouBliss 38]

It's the end of an era for the US and Egypt's close partnership from the mouth of one of the most powerful men in the world. In todays news, after recent events, President Obama gave an interview to the Spanish speaking channel Telemundo and said Egypt is no longer considered an ally, but it's not considered an enemy either. He goes on to explain his reasoning in the article quoted below.

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[Darnell 8,478]

Well, there was the 'decider' and now there's the 'noticer'.

I pray the 'noticer' not notice a 'real big problem'.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

The university education system is, for the most part, a joke. I've spent the past three months trying to hire someone who could do high school level math. Who applied? Engineering graduates. The best any of them could do was 16% on a high school level math test - basic Algebra and Trigonometry. There's a good reason most of them are unemployed; they're unemployable. I'm certainly not blaming them; what I'm saying is the educational system, as a whole, is woefully inadequate.

I am pretty sure that there are plenty of Egyptians who can handle high school level math. Sorry you did not find the candidate you are looking for, but I don't think that translates into "most Egyptians are unemployable." There may well be problems with the educational system. But the bigger problem is: there are not nearly enough jobs for Egypt's people.

[Ihavequestions 419]

I am pretty sure that there are plenty of Egyptians who can handle high school level math.

Really? Find them and send them to me.

The young lady who tested, with a Chemical Engineering degree and a calculator, couldn't do it, and her university graduation party was that evening.

FYI, it is not my opinion and my opinion alone that Egypt's educational system is horrendous. Education reform is one of the conditions the government has to consent to in order to get that IMF money, which is part of a deal that requires Egypt to acquire other, matching funds.

And they're balking.

[100% Al Ahly Fan 53]

Really? Find them and send them to me.

The young lady who tested, with a Chemical Engineering degree and a calculator, couldn't do it, and her university graduation party was that evening.

FYI, it is not my opinion and my opinion alone that Egypt's educational system is horrendous. Education reform is one of the conditions the government has to consent to in order to get that IMF money, which is part of a deal that requires Egypt to acquire other, matching funds.

And they're balking.

I would guess many Americans (college educated), too, can't do basic high school math. Just saying.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Really? Find them and send them to me.

The young lady who tested, with a Chemical Engineering degree and a calculator, couldn't do it, and her university graduation party was that evening.

FYI, it is not my opinion and my opinion alone that Egypt's educational system is horrendous. Education reform is one of the conditions the government has to consent to in order to get that IMF money, which is part of a deal that requires Egypt to acquire other, matching funds.

And they're balking.

I agree that there are problems in the educational systems. I'm still pretty sure that there are lots of Egyptians who can handle high school math - in fact I know some of them. You can PM me the job description, salary & contact info and I will put the word out.