Lobbying 2015: Egypt lobbies itself back into America's good graces
Congress and the State Department are willing to overlook ongoing human rights abuses in Egypt as Abdel Fatah al-Sisi takes on the Islamic State and keeps the peace with Israel.
Egypt is back in America’s good graces despite deposing its first democratically elected leader and putting him on death row.
President Barack Obama personally delivered the news in a March 31 phone call with his counterpart from Cairo, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The US president’s decision to lift the last remaining holds on $1.3 billion in annual military aid in spite of increasing authoritarianism offers the clearest sign yet that security considerations are paramount.
“President Obama informed President al-Sisi that he will lift executive holds that have been in place since October 2013 on the delivery of F-16 aircraft, Harpoon missiles, and M1A1 tank kits,” the White House said in a readout of the call. “The President also advised President al-Sisi that he will continue to request an annual $1.3 billion in military assistance for Egypt.”
Congress has also got Sisi’s back.
