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Obama Secretly Cuts Aid To Egypt Military

Hannah Madans |
August 20, 2013 | 8:38 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Egypt (Creative Commons)
Egypt (Creative Commons)
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)'s office told The Daily Beast that the Obama administration has decided to act as if the military takeover of Egypt was a coup and temporarily suspend most forms of military aid. The government has not publicly announced a coup determination.

The administration has suspended most direct military aid, the delivery of weapons to the military and some forms of economy aid to the government while it reviews the relationship.

The $585 million of promised aid is not officially on hold. It is due Sept. 30 and no final decisions have been made yet.

“After sequestration withholding, approximately $585 million remains unobligated. So, that is the amount that is unobligated,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “But it would be inaccurate to say that a policy decision has been made with respect to the remaining assistance funding.”

Members of Congress are split over whether the U.S. should cut off military aid. Even some Democrats have disagreed with Obama's approach, reports the Associated Press. Republicans are also in disagreement over what to do.



 

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