U.S. is stoking the chaos in Egypt - The Washington Post
▻http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/us-is-stoking-the-chaos-in-egypt/2014/04/30/8579f4f4-d089-11e3-b812-0c92213941f4_story.html
The administration’s response has been a cave-in. Last week it announced that it would transfer 10 Apache helicopters to Cairo that it held up last year, reversing its previous position that the delivery of major weapons systems depended on “Egypt’s progress toward an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government.” Separately, it notified Congress that it was proceeding with $650 million of the $1.5 billion in aid for Egypt in this year’s budget to fund ongoing contracts and items connected to counterterrorism, border security and nonproliferation.
In broader terms, the regime’s attempt to eliminate all opposition — including peaceful, secular and democratic forces — is doomed to failure. The United States only abets further chaos in Egypt by backing it. Mr. Leahy said that he would hold new U.S. funding “until we have a better understanding of how the aid would be used and we see convincing evidence that the government is committed to the rule of law.” Those are appropriate tests.