White House Muted in Response to New Mass Killing of Egyptian Protesters

[morningfog]

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s response was once again muted on Sunday after the second mass killing of Egyptian demonstrators in three weeks, as Western diplomats worked behind the scenes to calm the tensions, and lawmakers expressed scant support for cutting off American aid to Egypt.

One leading Democrat, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, who heads the Intelligence Committee, said Congress should consider suspending $1.5 billion in annual American aid to Egypt in response to the Egyptian security services’ attack on Saturday that killed at least 72 people and wounded hundreds more. “We have to relook at granting aid,” Ms. Feinstein said on the CNN program “State of the Union.” “The ball is in Egypt’s court.”

But other Democratic and Republican lawmakers, while condemning the second mass killing of demonstrators following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi, stopped short of calling for cutting aid to Egypt.

Spokeswomen for the State Department and the White House’s National Security Council declined to comment on Sunday. In a statement on Saturday, Secretary of State John Kerry called the violence “a pivotal moment for Egypt” and urged its leaders “to help their country take a step back from the brink.”

Mr. Kerry, who talked by telephone with Egypt’s interim vice president and foreign minister on Saturday, added, “In this extremely volatile environment, Egyptian authorities have a moral and legal obligation to respect the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/us/politics/white-house-response-muted-to-new-mass-killing-of-egyptian-protesters.html?_r=0

[JI7]

1. the aid to egypt is to prevent them from going to war with Israel

[morningfog]

2. Extortion or bribery?

[BumRushDaShow]

6. The Camp David Accords Treaty signed by Carter/Sadat/Begin

And it had U.S. financial strings attached.

But folks are free to throw Jimmy Carter under the bus.

[cali]

3. and? what sort of a precedent does this set?

there is no doubt that the administration is ignoring clear cut law. Furthermore, that aid is every bit as much for corporations that provide the hardware. In addition, who says that Egypt will go to war with Israel if they don't get paid off. Is that really a viable long term solution?

[dipsydoodle]

5. I sincerely doubt Egypt could afford to go to war with Israel.

If they did however then its fortunate that neither are NATO members.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. The IMF called off a loan as well. This is extortion and clear Morsi favoritism.

And Morsi is a true, genuine piece of FUCK.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. I don't remember him having the army massacre about 100 protestors

unlike the current regime: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/28/egypt-crisis-cairo-massacre-morsi

Are you really saying your prefer the generals who kill their opponents? And that the IMF not lending them money is 'extortion'?

[IDemo]

7. "Your Honor,"

"My wife beating episode was a pivotal moment for me."