New U.S. Egypt policy: Major military aid will start when crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood ends

October 31st, 2013

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON â€” The administration of President Barack Obama has outlined its new aid policy toward Egypt.

Officials said the administration would continue to withhold major combat platforms while releasing equipment for Egyptian border security and counter-insurgency operations.

An anti-Morsi protester ransacks the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo on Sept. 23. /AP/Khalil Hamra

The officials said fighter-jets, main battle tanks and missiles would be stored until Egypt ends its military crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

“We will review these decisions in light of credible progress on the interim government’s political roadmap and progress towards a sustainable, inclusive and peaceful transition to democracy,” Assistant Secretary of State Beth Jones said.

At a hearing of the House Foreign Relations Committee on Oct. 29, Ms. Jones and other officials outlined the administration’s suspension of U.S. military aid to Egypt. They said the suspension would be limited to what was termed “large-scale weapons systems,” including the F-16 multi-role fighter, M1A1 MBT, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and the Harpoon sea-based missile.

At the same time, officials said, the administration would continue U.S.
aid for Egypt’s border and maritime security as well as military education.
They said Egypt would also receive spare parts to maintain existing U.S.
combat platforms. Since 1980, Egypt has received $1.3 billion in annual U.S.
military assistance.

“We will continue assistance that supports our vital security interests,
including assistance for border and maritime security, Sinai security and
counter-terrorism,” Assistant Defense Secretary Derek Chollett said.
“Sustaining these systems is important for Egypt’s long-term military
capabilities and is also important to ensure continued interoperability
between U.S. and Egyptian military forces.”

Chollet said the administration would not terminate contracts for the
F-16 and other major combat platforms. He said some of the aircraft would
remain in “temporary storage until Egypt makes credible progress on an
inclusive, democratic transition.”

The House panel appeared divided between opponents of the U.S.
suspension and those who demanded harsher sanctions. Officials said the U.S.
suspension has not yet affected Egypt’s operational capability, particularly
in fighting the Al Qaida-linked insurgency in Sinai.

“The assistance that we are holding, the M1A1 tank kits, the F-16s, the
Harpoon missiles, even the Apaches, is not affecting their operational
effectiveness in the Sinai at all,” Chollett said. “Those operations have
been ongoing for several months, and they have sufficient capability to take
care of that problem.”