…but stopping military aid for the current dictatorship might.
When an Egyptian Kangaroo Court sentenced 529 suspected supported of the Muslim Brotherhood to death on Monday, the U.S. State Department expressed “Shock”.
This was followed by a “shocking” exchange between Deputy Spokesperson, Marie Harf and a reporter with an entirely valid question:
REPORTER: Okay. But shouldn’t this really – more than just shock – I mean, shouldn’t you be outraged to the point of actually taking some action?
MS. HARF: Well, what action are you suggesting we take?
The Deputy Spokesperson’s rhetorical response demonstrates the total lack of humanitarian or democratic interest in the strategic breakdown of Egyptian foreign policy.
There are many answers to Ms. Harfs question, first of which would be to immediately end military aid to the country.
The Green Shadow Cabinet repeats our call for an end to Military aid to Egypt, which is a destabilizing element in an unstable situation. It is also illegal, under the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act, which forbids aid to countries ruled by groups taking power by violent coup. Additionally a two-day trial which sentences 529 people to death should evoke the clause which states that no assistance shall be provided to a government which:
“engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights”
But the U.S. State Department asks a reporter “what actions are you suggesting we take?”
Ceasing military aid to the regime in Egypt is not the sole diplomatic change that the U.S., but it should be the first. From there a re-assessment of U.S.-Egyptian relations should put humanitarian and democratic principles at its heart.
~ Kevin Zeese serves as Attorney General on the Justice Branch of the Green Shadow Cabinet.
Previous Green Shadow Cabinet statements and policy outlines on Egypt:
U.S. is destabilizing Egypt with military funding
From 1961 to Egypt today; Eisenhower’s warnings & advice hold true