Posted by Daniel Larison makes the case for cutting off aid to Egypt.
The most credible objection to the call for suspending Egypt aid that I have seen is that it wouldn’t change conditions in Egypt for the better. That’s fair enough, but it misses the point. There is probably nothing that the U.S. can do at this point that would make the military less intent on its crackdown, so it’s time for Washington to cease backing a client that completely ignores its preferences. Cutting off aid to a coup government in accordance with our own law shouldn’t have to be the tortured, difficult decision that some people are making it out to be, and it should be even easier when that client government massacres protesters in the streets. U.S. influence in Egypt is already very limited and becoming more so every day, so the U.S. should be willing to risk losing it without so much hand-wringing and indecision.
I’m reminded of the scene in The Dark Knight Rises where John Daggett accosts Bane for not helping him out enough in trying to take over Wayne Enterprises.
Bane: Speak of the devil… and he shall appear.
Daggett: What the hell’s going on?
Bane: The plan is proceeding as expected.
Daggett: Do I look like I’m running Wayne Enterprises? Your hit on the stock exchange didn’t work, my friend. And now you’ve got my construction crews working all hours around the city. How’s that supposed to help my company absorb Wayne’s?
Bane (to Stryver): Leave us.
Daggett: You stay right there. I’m in charge here.
Bane: Do you feel in charge?
Daggett: I’ve paid you a small fortune.
Bane: And this gives you power over me? … Your money and infrastructure have been important… ‘til now.
The Egyptians don’t need more US aid in order to do each other harm. As Larison notes, the Egyptian military will do what they will, with or without US aid. Pulling back aid doesn’t preclude the USA from offering it again, say, perhaps if Egyptian interests once ally with US interests again.
The USA cannot offer aid to governments/regimes that don’t share our ideological foundations or at the very least to whom we have no influence whatsoever.
