White House Disagrees with McCain, Warns Against Cutting off Aid to Egypt

Last updated on July 14th, 2013 at 05:36 pm

It should surprise no one that the White House and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) rarely agree on issues of foreign policy. McCain thinks we should cut aid to Egypt, but today the White House warned that cutting off aid to Egypt after the military tossed out former President Mohamed Morsi “would not be in the best interest of the United States.”

“I think it would not be in the best interest of the United States to immediately change our assistance programs to Egypt. Not just I, we think it would not be in our best interests,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told the press Monday afternoon.

Carney said the White House needs to consult with Congress and also review what’s taken place before determining if the overthrow of President Morsi by the Egyptian military should be labeled a coup d’etat (the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group). If it is officially deemed a military coup, our laws would dictate that we stop sending $1 billion plus in annual military aid to Egypt.

On Friday, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said aid should be suspended, even though to do so risks “further problems in the Sinai.” “I say that with great reluctance, but the United States of America I think must learn the lessons of history and that is: We cannot stand by without acting in cases where freely elected governments are unseated by the military arm of those nations.”

McCain further told NBC that the Egyptian military should set a time table for a new constitution and elections, “Then we should evaluate whether to continue the aid or not. I am aware that by suspending aid to the Egyptian military, which is the only stable institution in Egypt, we are risking further problems in the Sinai, and in other areas of cooperation with the Egyptian military.”

McCain never seems to need any time to make his decisions; whereas the White House takes its time gathering evidence and combing strategy before making decisions.

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