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Africa North
Egypt to try 43 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, over funds
2012-02-05
CAIRO — Egyptian investigating judges on Sunday referred 43 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, to trial before a criminal court for allegedly being involved in banned activities and illegally receiving foreign funds. The decision is likely to further sour relations between Egypt‘s military rulers and the United States, the Arab nation’s chief western backer for more than 30 years.
Likely?
Beside the 19 Americans, those referred to trial included five Serbs, two Germans and three non-Egyptian Arab nationals. Among the Americans is Sam LaHood, the head of the Egypt office of the Washington-based International Republican Institute and the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. A date has yet to be set for the start of the trial.

The referral is the latest development in a long-running row between Washington and Cairo over an Egyptian crackdown on U.S.-funded groups promoting democracy and human rights.

On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Egypt‘s foreign minister that failure to resolve the dispute may lead to the loss of American aid. Washington is due to give Egypt $1.3 billion in military assistance and $250 million in economic aid in 2012.
Careful boys, or Hilde will give Bambi a set of checkboxes, and you won't want the big guy to check the middle box on you...
The Egyptian investigation is closely intertwined with Egypt‘s political turmoil since the ouster nearly a year ago of President Hosni Mubarak, a close U.S. ally who ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years. The generals who took power after Mr. Mubarak’s fall have accused “foreign hands” of being behind protests against their rule and frequently depict the protesters as receiving foreign funds in a plot to destabilize the country.

Already, Egyptian authorities are preventing at least six Americans and four Europeans from leaving the country, citing a probe opened last month when heavily armed security forces raided the offices of 17 pro-democracy and rights groups. Egyptian officials have defended the raid as part of a legitimate investigation into the groupsÂ’ work and funding.

SundayÂ’s decision also slapped a travel ban on all 43 NGO workers referred to trial.
I think it's time we slapped a ban on all aid to Egypt. Let them find a way to pay for the wheat without us.
Posted by:

#12  if its illegal for persons in Egypt to receive foreign funds, doesn't that makes all of our aid to Egypt illegal
Posted by: Lord Garth   2012-02-05 19:29  

#11  What does the Egyptian military want in exchange for these high value hostages NGO workers?

More money, the Blind Sheikh, or something/someone else?

By deporting these foreigners and closing down the NGOs they would have rid Egypt of these "foreign hands", sent a message and they would have avoided the danger of a serious confrontation with the West.

This looks like they're deliberately throwing down the gauntlet.
Posted by: Harcourt Hitler3209   2012-02-05 19:18  

#10  Somebody figured Obama out

You mean besides the Chinese, Egyptians, French, Georgians, Italians, Japanese, Pakistanis, Russians, Syrians, Talibanis, and the Turks?
Posted by: Pappy   2012-02-05 18:50  

#9  
(i) Somebody has delusions of grandeur.
(ii) Somebody figured Obama out.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2012-02-05 14:55  

#8  Where can I donate to the prosecution?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2012-02-05 14:49  

#7  "Egypt to try 43 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, over funds"

Translation: They didn't fork over enough boodle to the present powers-that-be.
Posted by: Barbara   2012-02-05 14:21  

#6  
I don't think facing trial was in the curriculum, though.


The most valuable lessons seldom are...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2012-02-05 13:51  

#5  NGOs always strike me as the worst kind of non-accountable, elitist bureaucrats

Because NGOs are often headed by them.

Much of what the two current American NGOs in Egypt are doing, was done up until forty years by US intelligence agencies. Since the 'reforms', it went to non-governmetal bodies, each loosely aligned with the center-left factions of both US political parties. And as g(r)omgoru put it, a "finishing school" staffed by the offspring of elites in order to get international exposure.

I don't think facing trial was in the curriculum, though.
Posted by: Pappy   2012-02-05 13:47  

#4  While everyone was "passing the popcorn" while the Obama/Clinton backed hounds were chasing down Mubarack

Aside from wondering if I'd read a more awkwardly-written sentence this year or not - no one "chased down" Mubarak. The Obama administration took the cheapest (on many levels) and most expedient option in favor of their interests. They didn't go much beyond that. Mubarak may be gone, but his backers are still in power.

You have seem to have this "passing the popcorn" thing jammed in your... fore-brain, and it appears to be causing you a great deal of discomfort. Especially since it seems to appear out of context. You might want to see a professional. Or try another phrase expressing your dissatisfaction.

knew the next major target would be Americans.

"Major target"? Hardly. More like a diplomatic rattle-around. The Egyptian junta will try them, then deport them. The message will have been sent.

Welcome to Somalia II.

Again - hardly. Spend some of your energy used polishing your indignancy instead on researching recent (post monarchy) Egyptian history, or perusing the blogs of Egyptians like Sandmonkey. It's a bit more more complex than "Somalia".
Posted by: Pappy   2012-02-05 13:41  

#3  This is the leftist mentality delusion: "That rattlesnake / scorpion / black widow has every bit as much right to the crib as the baby..."

Yeah...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2012-02-05 13:31  

#2  Why can't I get the idea out of my head that this is red on red?

NGOs always strike me as the worst kind of non-accountable, elitist bureaucrats.
Posted by: AlanC   2012-02-05 13:05  

#1  While everyone was "passing the popcorn" while the Obama/Clinton backed hounds were chasing down Mubarack, knew the next major target would be Americans. Welcome to Somalia II.
Posted by: wr   2012-02-05 12:53  

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