American politicians have refused President Barack Obama's pledge to give financial aid to Egypt, especially if the Muslim Brotherhood may rule Egypt. According to "Foreign Policy" magazine, the head of the Foreign Aids Committee of the House of Representatives, Kay Granger, and the head of the subcommittee of Foreign Operations, Nita Lowey, spoke at the AIPAC conference yesterday. Granger refused to grant more financial aid to Egypt because of the growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and the possibility that they might come to power. "Where is the new government of Egypt? I don't know, and this is the problem. The revolution was carried out by the general public so now there isn't one leading organization or party. The Muslim Brotherhood, however, has existed for a long time so there is a chance they will become the next government," said Granger. She also wants the U.S. administration to be cautious of giving American money to "unknown governments." Lowey proposed using aid to bring democracy to Egypt. She also said Obama's pledge will not be passed by congress so he should look for somewhere else that will pass it. The U.S. gives Egypt billions of dollars in the form of military aid, and this matter needs to be re-examined, she added. Giving financial aid to Egypt will affect America's budget and so Obama's promises must be ruled out by congress, said Lowey. The fears of the Muslim Brotherhood reflect a continuous perception in the West, partly created by deposed Egyptian President Honis Mubarak, that the only alternative to authoritarian rule in Egypt is an Islamic state ruled by the Muslim Brotherhood.
