Note: Weasel Zippers posted the following report. Please go directly to Weasel Zippers and read the comments - comments made by Americans who are outraged by Obama's constant willingness to aid the enemy. Yes, "enemies" is an appropriate term to describe Egypt's leaders. Egypt will NEVER be a democracy under the terrorism and Sharia Law of the Muslim Brotherhood. In the last year, Christian churches are burned and Christians murdered; American citizens arrested and then released AFTER the U.S. paid a huge ransom for their release; Israel is attacked by terrorist organizations from the Sinai; and our president dares invite and entertain these criminals in Washington, DC. What do we have Embassies for, if not to meet with Egypt's local "government"? Did Obama have to invite them to our White House?! The Congress had specifically withheld monies to Egypt .. here's another example of Obama ignoring both Congress and the "will of the people". As one comment on Zip's blog: "this is not pro-Egypt … it is an anti-Israeli move. Someone has got to pay for the missiles they are shooting at Israel." The very fact that the Muslim Brotherhood will be a major "player" in Egypt's politics is reason enough to withhold ALL money/aid/gifts to Egypt! After they had arrested 19 of our citizens, the State Department should have warned Americans to not fly to and visit Egypt. Now, here's Weasel Zipper's report:
Our tax dollars hard at work.
WASHINGTON, April 5 (KUNA) — The White House defended the decision to release USD 1.5 billion in foreign aid to Egypt, on Thursday, following meetings between U.S. officials and lawmakers and representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood in Washington.
“We believe it is in the interest of the United States to engage with all parties in Egypt and to continue to engage with Egypt, because Egypt has been an important ally of the United States and has played a significant role in the region, “White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.
Carney did not answer why the foreign aid was released all at once, rather than in tranches as some lawmakers had strongly lobbied for after the Egyptian government prosecuted American and international pro-democracy workers.
However, he said the Obama administration is engaging with Egypt’s new actors “to try to work with them during this historic transformation in the post-revolution era and to try to encourage them both to pursue democracy in its fullest sense as well as pursue the kind of international obligations that they’ve maintained in the past.”
The United States gives Egypt USD 1.5 billion in military aid annually that must be spent on U.S. made weapons and goods, including M1A1 tanks and F-16 fighter jets.
Separately, Carney acknowledged the Obama administration, including national security officials, and lawmakers met with representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood, saying “Anyone who has paid any attention to the post-revolution developments in Egypt that the Muslim Brotherhood will be a major player”.