Egypt's FEC, TRAIN partner to support food exporters    Spot Gold, futures slips on Thursday, July 17th    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt expresses condolences to Iraq over fire tragedy    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    At London 'Egypt Day', Finance Minister outlines pro-investment policies    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's FRA chief vows to reform business environment to boost investor confidence    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Sri Lanka's expat remittances up in June '25    EU–US trade talks enter 'decisive phase', German politician says    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



US wrong to cut funding to Egypt
Published in Bikya Masr on 26 - 04 - 2010

The announcement this week that former diplomat Abdullah Al-Ashaal might run for president in next year’s election underscored the wrongheadedness of the United States’ decision to cut funding for democracy promotion in Egypt roughly in half.
I would be among the first to argue that President Bush’s democracy promotion was a disaster, and misguided from the beginning. I am not a proponent of political imperialism, and do not believe that Americanized democracy, which has had more than 200 years to evolve into its current form here, should be imposed by us on other countries. And I think that, more broadly, Bush’s actions in the Middle East did far more harm than they did good.
In short, I was delighted when Obama took office and looked set to reverse so many of the previous administration’s policies. I had no idea, though, that he would do so to the region’s detriment.
That however, is exactly what seems to be happening with the administration’s dramatic cut in funds for democracy promotion at the very moment it may actually have a chance. In 2005 President Bush pushed for more open elections, at a time when there was neither today’s number of capable candidates nor the necessary public engagement. The result was an election marred by accusations of vote buying, intimidation, ballot stuffing and general confusion, not to mention a lack of credible monitoring.
This time around, though, the atmosphere in Egypt is markedly different, and the tendrils of self-determination trying to take hold are largely home-grown. The Obama administration is missing an unprecedented opportunity to help an organic and authentic pro-democracy movement flourish . Not only are there more viable candidates for office this time around—and I don’t only mean ElBaradei — but there is a grassroots campaign for change, one that might well be larger if not for fear of reprisals from the police and security forces. That kind of feet-on-the-ground commitment from citizens has been the precursor to every democratizing movement I can think of.
I am not for a moment suggesting the United States should go in and support a specific candidate. We should, however, be pressuring the government to lift the emergency law and allow people to assemble freely and organize politically. But that alone is not enough. We should also be giving full support to human rights groups and other civil organizations that can push for that kind of change from within Egyptian society, because without them it can never happen.
Rights groups in Egypt have interpreted the cuts as a sign that the Obama administration is supporting the current regime—and that’s an easy conclusion to draw. I’d like to believe that the United States couldn’t possibly be so short-sighted in its approach, but history makes that impossible.
BM


Clic here to read the story from its source.