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Africa North
Egypt names American NGO workers facing trial
2012-02-07
Egypt on Monday released the names of 19 Americans who face trial over foreign funding of activities of their non-profit groups in Egypt, a case that has soured US-Egypt relations.

One of the 19 is the son of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Sam LaHood and five other Americans are in Egypt while the others have left, according to a statement from the Egyptian prosecutor's office. Altogether, 43 people face trials over illegally operating in Egypt and receiving funds from abroad without permission from Egyptian authorities for their human rights and pro-democracy groups. Egypt charges that they fund and support anti-government protests. The groups deny that.

Washington has reacted angrily to the case, which started with raids last month on the offices of the groups. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has warned it could jeopardise U.S. aid to Egypt, which amounts to more than $1 billion a year.
You do wonder if the generals priced that in before authorizing the warrants...
On Monday the US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said the US citizens involved in the dispute have been working to build a more democratic society in Egypt and "have done absolutely nothing wrong."

She told "CBS This Morning" that U.S. officials have been in close touch with the Egyptian government, including "in the last days and hours." She said the situation "has serious consequences for our bilateral relationship."

Egyptian Cabinet minister Mohammed Amr said the government cannot interfere in the work of the judiciary.
Nope, nope, never done it before, never, can't do it now. Why the very thought of the government interfering with the judiciary in Egypt is just unthinkable...
"We are doing our best to contain this but ... we cannot actually exercise any influence on the investigating judges," he reporters at a security conference in Munich, Germany on Sunday, before the announcement that charges would be filed against the foreign activists.
Posted by:Steve White

#13  but, the Czars and RAs are in fact bureaucrats themselves.

I believe bureaucrats are the salaried professionals who stay on the job regardless who was elected. The Czars and RAs were hired directly by the president to act as senior department managers. They serve at his pleasure and will leave when he does.
Posted by: trailing wife   2012-02-07 21:53  

#12  What we need here is...

Smahrt Diplomacy
Posted by: swksvolFF   2012-02-07 17:41  

#11  Agreed up to a point, but, the Czars and RAs are in fact bureaucrats themselves. The chaos and harm they inflict will need some "strong leader" to control, no?

Of course said "strong leader" does desire the exact same things as the bureaucrats as long as he gets more power.
Posted by: AlanC   2012-02-07 12:55  

#10  Did you mean there or here?

Just change out generals with Democrats and it works fine.

Dear AlanC,

I meant there. Here the bureaucracy is closely supervised by all those czars and recess appointments to produce the effects desired by those in charge of running things. That a great many are in full agreement with both goals and tactics is a side issue, or so it seems to me.
Posted by: trailing wife   2012-02-07 12:34  

#9  My advise Egypt, let Americans go and STFU.

Fail
Posted by: newc   2012-02-07 11:25  

#8  Obama's Jimmy Carter moment?
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-02-07 10:48  

#7  Do nothing. Let them go to trial. Cut off funding while we wait.

And tell LaHood his kid ain't nothing special.
Posted by: mojo   2012-02-07 10:32  

#6  Dear T. Wife,

When you said

much of the bureaucracy is running about unsuperpervised ....to let this happen so that the peepul will turn to them to be rescued

Did you mean there or here?

Just change out generals with Democrats and it works fine.
Posted by: AlanC   2012-02-07 07:39  

#5  I have the impression that much of the bureaucracy is running about unsuperpervised, making decisions beyond the control of the generals. And quite possibly the generals are willing to let this happen so that the peepul will turn to them to be rescued from the anarchy, not to mention the assaults on women by unrestrained gangs of unemployed young men.
Posted by: trailing wife   2012-02-07 07:15  

#4  I think the Egyptian government has decided to save the American taxpayers over $1B a year.

No. They've decided that it should be two billion a year---wanna bet they'll get it too?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2012-02-07 05:52  

#3  The "Arab Spring" not turning out quite as planned. Who knew?
Posted by: Besoeker   2012-02-07 05:31  

#2  SH, if adults were in charge, I would agree, but we have the Architect of the US Apology and Bow tour in charge. I fear that the $1B will be increased in order to show our sincere apology for this affront to their dignity. ( or some such drivel)
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2012-02-07 00:42  

#1  I think the Egyptian government has decided to save the American taxpayers over $1B a year.
Posted by: Super Hose   2012-02-07 00:17  

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