Sen. Cruz Statement on Egypt
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statement on President Obama’s comments concerning violence in Egypt:
“President Obama’s detached and abstract statement yesterday on deteriorating conditions in Egypt is only the most recent manifestation of this Administration's failed policy in that country. As there can no longer be any reasonable doubt that what occurred in July was a military coup, the first step is to send an unequivocal message that the United States is a nation of laws and suspend aid to Egypt.
“The United States has invested billions in Egypt since the Camp David peace accords, and should have significant influence with its government. President Obama, however, has squandered this leverage. In 2010, the Obama administration failed to pressure Hosni Mubarak to make an orderly transition to a more democratic system of government. Then it failed to extract any concessions from Mohammad Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood regime in return for the additional billion dollars in aid it inexplicably pledged. As Morsi’s rule became increasingly dictatorial, this administration failed to support those calling for more inclusive and tolerant leadership.
“When a military coup occurred, it failed to follow current U.S. law and suspend aid to Egypt, something that could have been done to encourage the new government to move swiftly toward democratic reforms. Not illogically, the Egyptian military took this as permission to act with impunity against the Muslim Brotherhood, which in turn is provoking violence and committing savage crimes against Coptic Christians.
“The one sentiment uniting these disparate groups—as President Obama noted in his remarks—is to blame the United States, the country that continues to pour taxpayer dollars into Egypt. The situation demands recognition that our country's current aid system is utterly and irretrievably broken. Not only are we giving arms and money to people who hate us around the world—in Egypt, we are managing to give arms and money in a way that makes our former friends hate us. It must stop now.
“When and if the United States does resume aid to Egypt, it should be clearly targeted at producing a result that is in the best interests of the United States, which would be a secular, inclusive and stable administration that supports Camp David and will be able to maintain the Suez Canal"
“But the President concluded his remarks, tellingly, with, 'We don't take sides with any particular party or political figure.' That was his policy in 2009 when he failed to vigorously support the Green Revolution in Iran. It was his policy in 2011 when he failed to swiftly call for the removal of the Syrian dictator Bashir al-Assad when there was a unified, peaceful and secular opposition to him. And it has been the basis of the Obama Administration’s failed policy in Egypt, which, by refusing to use our leverage to advance U.S. interests and priorities, has contributed to that country’s descent into chaos.”
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