Egypt set to back down in standoff with U.S. over arrested NGO workers
Washington is unlikely to accept the government’s claim of impartiality in the case, which underscores tensions between the two long-standing allies since the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak last February.
But two officials involved in Egypt’s diplomatic strategy said the army rulers want to ease the tension to ensure the aid keeps flowing and get American help to ensure favorable terms for an International Monetary Fund support package for Egypt.
“The travel ban will be lifted and the escalation will cease,” one of the officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “Egypt needs the loans and the IMF funds to come through, but better terms are needed.”
He said army leaders believed the U.S. government can help Egypt secure the IMF money on favorable terms.
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Obama is a fool and Hillary is, unfortunately, his enabler.
Schadenfreude on February 7, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Dangit… they are trying to get our money!
WashJeff on February 7, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Money talks, bullsh*t walks.
rcpjr on February 7, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Cut off the aid anyway.
Screw em. WhyTF should my tax money go to Egypt, or anywhere outside the US anyway?
thirtyandseven on February 7, 2012 at 1:01 PM
This is Obama’s “Iranian Hostage Crisis”. They will be released a week before the election and Barry will be the hero.
JPeterman on February 7, 2012 at 1:02 PM
Damn that Ayn Rand. Stinkin’ NeoCon thought that aid was reasonable if it supported American interests.
mankai on February 7, 2012 at 1:15 PM
Of course they’ll back down.
They may be led by Islamists who hate the US but they want their cheese. $1.3 bn is a hefty ransom for some “NGO” workers.
Tbh though, given the NGO people I’ve run across – they probably deserved to get picked up for something unsavory. Child sex rings, drugs, prostitution, contraband…
CorporatePiggy on February 7, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Oh that’s $1.6 BILLION, we were thinking it was only $1.6 million. That changes everything. Sure, we’ll take that.
Flange on February 7, 2012 at 1:21 PM