From Egypt, the message is 'Obama keep your aid'

[dipsydoodle]

(Reuters) - A U.S. decision to curtail military and economic aid to Egypt to promote democracy may ultimately backfire, pushing Cairo to seek assistance elsewhere and giving Washington less leverage to stabilize a country in the heart of the Middle East.

Washington faces a dilemma in dealing with its major regional ally: Egypt controls the Suez Canal and has a peace treaty with neighboring Israel but its army overthrew the first freely elected president, Islamist Mohamed Mursi, in July.

The United States said on Wednesday it would withhold deliveries of tanks, fighter aircraft, helicopters and missiles to Cairo as well as $260 million in cash aid to push the army-backed government to steer the nation towards democracy.

Egypt's government, the second largest recipient of U.S. aid after Israel, said it would not bow to American pressure. The country's military, which has been leading the crackdown against Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood, can afford to be even more defiant.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/11/us-egypt-usa-idUSBRE99A0EZ20131011

[Fumesucker]

1. No one could have predicted

Evidently those close to the problem fear the Muslim Brotherhood more than they love American money.