Good Grief. Obama Cut Funding for Egyptian Democracy Programs Before the Current Crisis
Posted by Jim Hoft on Saturday, January 29, 2011, 2:05 PM
Good grief.
Obama failed to support the people of Georgia when Russian tanks plowed across the border.
Obama failed to support the freedom protesters in Iran when the regime was shooting at them from rooftops.
Obama failed to support the Honduran people when a tyrant tried to take their freedom.
Obama also failed to support freedom activists in Egypt.
When Barack Obama went to Cairo to talk about peace, freedom and brotherhood in 2009 he forgot to mention that he had cut funding for democracy and governance programming in Egypt by more than half his first year in office.
Democracy protester Mohamed Atef lies on the ground after being shot in the head while demonstrating in the town of Sheikh Zoweid northeast of Cairo, January 27, 2011. (REUTERS/Stringer)
Even leftists agree that the Obama Administration’s efforts have generally been less aggressive than the Bush administration’s.
The Huffington Post reported, via FOX Nation:
President Obama’s historic speech at Cairo University galvanized millions of people across the Arab world with its inspiring message of peace and brotherhood among Muslims. And his stirring endorsement of democracy gave hope to many Egyptians that his words would ring in a new era, helping pressure their own government to hold free and fair elections and to adhere to the rule of law.
But when it comes to backing up the president’s rhetoric since that speech in June 2009, the administration has a decidedly mixed record and has disappointed many Egyptians, foreign policy experts tell The Huffington Post. Though Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has championed human rights around the world and American diplomats have quietly encouraged political and legal reforms in Egypt, when it comes to promoting democracy in the riot-torn country, efforts have generally been less aggressive than the Bush administration’s. On Friday, amidst violent protests, longtime leader Hosni Mubarak announced the resignation of Egypt’s government.
In its first year, the Obama administration cut funding for democracy and governance programming in Egypt by more than half, from $50 million in 2008 to $20 million in 2009 (Congress later appropriated another $5 million). The level of funding for civil society programs and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) was cut disproportionately, from $32 million to only $7 million. Though funding levels for 2010 are not yet available, they are expected to show an increase to $14 million, says Stephen McInerny, the director of advocacy at the Project on Middle East Democracy. He notes that the Bush administration slashed economic aid to Egypt in the 2009 budget but kept the funding for democracy and governance programs constant, while Obama cut funding to those programs in an effort to make the cuts more proportional and under pressure from the American embassy in Cairo.
The White House and the State Department did not return emails for comment.
Of course, this surprises no one.
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Published February 22, 2012 at 4:19 pm - 32 Comments
MrGoodWench commented:
What I have learned from Hussain’s words and actions :
1. Count your fingers after you shake hands with him
2. When he hugs you, he might actually stab you in the back at the same time
Khan Krum commented:
“Soetoro/Soebarkah failed to support the people of Georgia when Russian tanks plowed across their border.”
But of course: Georgian is one of the oldest Christian nations projected up against the Muslim hordes.
“Soetoro/Soebarkah failed to support the freedom protesters in Iran when the regime was shooting at them from rooftops.”
But of course: Iran is run by radical Muslim clerics who see a common enemy in the West.
“Soetoro/Soebarkah failed to support the Honduran people when a tyrant tried to take their freedom.”
But of course: the tyrant is a revolutionary Marxist.
“Soetoro/Soebarkah also failed to support freedom activists in Egypt.”
But of course: Soetoro/Soebarkah is hoping that the result will be another Islamic “Republic” like Iran.
bg commented:
++
Egypt: Obama’s Killing Fields part 2..
==
Charlie commented:
Well, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for the things he would do in the future. This is probably one of those things.
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BarbaraS commented:
Obama wants the Muslim Brotherhood to prevail not only in Egypt but in all the ME. He is working diligently toward that end.
mary_said_no commented:
George Bush was in office when the Russians invaded Georgia. It was August 2008, while the Olympics were in progress in China.
RedBeard commented:
This can’t be incompetence. If an administration had absolutely no idea what to do, and flipped a coin to make foreign policy decisions, it would be right far more often than this current gang. Therefore, Barbara’s assessment seems to be right on the mark.
MrGoodWench commented:
mary_said_no
I always felt that Bush lost his control ( and mind) after the elections of 2006, when the Dems took over and MCain became the face of Repubs .
Bush basically danced to Pelosi’s tunes after she became speaker.
Real American Moron commented:
Barbara S 100% correct.
Very soon: the Muslim Brotherhood; al qaeda and al Zahawahiri/bin Laden will use the ME’s largest army and air forces – paid for and trained by the US – to attack the US and Israel.
Thank Obama; Clintons; Soros; the dem party; the lying liberal media; and America-hating liberal/progressive hellions.
bg commented:
++
Bush, Rice say Russia must quit Georgia
tell me, what did Reagan do about the 1983 Beirut
barracks or United States embassy bombings??
==
Granny commented:
#8 January 29, 2011 at 2:36 pm
MrGoodWench commented:
mary_said_no
I always felt that Bush lost his control ( and mind) after the elections of 2006, when the Dems took over and MCain became the face of Repubs .
Bush basically danced to Pelosi’s tunes after she became speaker.
________
I can tell you almost to the day when Bush lost control and became really a president in name only. It was during the Summer War between Lebanon & Israel. If you recall, the very first statement that came out of DC was from Condi Rice, condeming the Israelis. A couple of hours later Bush overrode her and came out with a statement in support, which held for several weeks. Then suddenly there was a 180 out of DC and among other things, Israel was refused bombs and jet fuel. And there you have it. Whoever was in charge of US foreign policy after that, it was not President Bush.
bg commented:
++
BarbaraS #5
not nearly as hard as he’s been working
on the tmb project right here in the US..
==
gastorgrab commented:
Is that how Obama ‘confronted him over the past 2 years’?
Joanne commented:
He needed the cool billion for the Palestinian people and the Hamas terrorist organization, so he HAD to cut funding for democracy in Egypt. When are Americans going to wake up to the point where they take back their country.
Joanne commented:
#5 BarbaraS – Obama wants the Muslim Brotherhood to prevail in America too.
bg commented:
++
Granny #12
don’t rightly recall that..
but i do recall a drastic change, and asking myself what happened, and
thinking off the wall things such as perhaps someone was either holding
one of his dd’s hostage, thratening to kill family members, or something
of a similar vein, heck, i still feel that way at times.. *sigh*
==
Dave-O commented:
When it comes right down to it, does anybody with even a modicum of intelligence or common sense expect a 49-year old self-described “community activist” and former part-time legal lecturer to have the necessary gravitas to deal with an international crisis of the magnitude currently unfolding in Egypt? Not exactly. His vice president, purportedly selected for his “foreign policy acumen” is a walking “gaffe-meister”, lends little confidence and is given to chronically confusing the message and misstating the Administration’s position on these matters.
Given, the situation in Egypt is a tough problem, but Urkel and his team of whiz-kids – who promised to deliver a new era of “smart diplomacy” – have so far done NOTHING that has inspired ANY confidence that they know anything about what they are faced with. Quite the contrary, they appear confused, consistently deliver conflicting statements, and seem utterly clue-less. The sycophantic news media has fallen silent for the most part on any criticism of the Administration’s handling of this matter and lies waiting (and is aching for an opportunity) to declare some sort (ANY sort) of foreign policy triumph for this guy – but he has given them nothing so far to work with.
Hillary once warned America about those 3:00 am phone calls coming in on Urkel’s watch – the phone is now ringing and no one seems to be answering. Where have the grown-ups gone?
And why is no one really surprised by any of this?
Chisum commented:
Check out where he is sending money.
Obama answers Kenyan critics with a Sh3.6bn budget for youth project
“President Obama has a strong interest in developing the leadership skills of young people and last year held his first Young Africa Leaders Forum. He has charged young people to be agents of change and to ‘stand up for democracy and transparent government.’ Our $45 million (Sh3.6 billion) ‘Yes Youth Can’ programme will empower hundreds of thousands of youth to participate in the development of their country and expand their peaceful participation in the democratic process.”
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Obama%20answers%20Kenyan%20critics%20with%20a%20youth%20project%20/-/1056/1098006/-/12kc17n/-/
AuntieMadder commented:
Granny, mary_said_no, and others: When thinking of both the President Bushes, their admin’s foreign policy(s), and whatever their relation(s) might or might not be to the NWO, I end up confused and frustrated, not able to figure out whose side they’re on. It’s as if they both went into it on the right side – on the side of a sovereign, Constitutional Republic United States – but then switched sides or gave up the fight or something by the time they left office. Does someone or something get to them – our leaders, POTUS, that is – while at 1900 Pennsylvania and before their term(s) is finished, they come to know who really is Boss? Do they fight battle after batte until they’re forced into surrender?
Of course, the “they” I’m wondering about doesn’t include Barkey. We may not always agree whose side he’s on but we all know he’s not on America’s side, never was and never will be.
Taqiyyotomist commented:
Sorry if it’s been posted but, Re: TIME Mag cover –
“And now, for the flip side!”
http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=57742
h/t Larwyn @ DougRoss
bg commented:
++
Taq #21
LOL..
==
MrGoodWench commented:
Ladies and gentlemen , and everyone in between,
feast your eyes on Buraq
http://thicketandthorp.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/img_4476.jpg
What is Buraq you say ?
Read and laugh ( and then cry )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buraq
Dreams from his father ? The audacity of dope ?
memomachine commented:
Hmmmm.
Well. So much for those “we’re supporting the rebels” BS from the White House.
bg commented:
++
Dave-O #18
i cannot tell you anything more certain than Obama is no dummy..
he may be wrong, and he come across as one, but everyone in our
government bends over backwards to lend him their ear and do his
bidding, that dear friend takes brilliance..
not to mention this, or this, and a whole hell of a lot
more (and that was just a drop in the O’s bucket)..
==
AuntieMadder commented:
MrGoodWench #23 – From the wikipedia page you linked:
“…Muhammad dismounted from the Buraq, prayed, and then once again mounted the Buraq and was taken to the various heavens…”
Woohoo! Gay porn, Islamic style, featuring Barky Ohblowme.
AuntieMadder commented:
Taq #21 – Sweet.
bg commented:
++
AuntieMadder #20
just my opinions:
i can agree that Bush the father went into it with the utmost of good
intentions, and was later blindsided, and/or, he either doesn’t realize
the scope of the plan very well or doesn’t want to.. now Bush the son,
well, i believe he was bucking against the NWO since the first day he
ever heard of it, namely while at Yale, at any rate, he even bucked up
against hid dads cronies via the Iraq war, which is when the powers
that be really got pissed at him for throwing a HUGE MONKEY WRENCH
into their transitioning plans, never mind them suffering from BDS after
having counted on the GORACLE to beat Bush to begin with.. but alas..
when i saw Bush’s demeanor & heard the tone of his voice when he said
“just send them the money” via that commercial with with Clinton re: the
horrific Earthquake in Haiti, i knew in my heart that he was a personally
beaten man via outside forces whatever they may be.. *sigh* but i also
know that as President, he always strived to put America/ns & Freedom
first.. and albeit he’s done much more we’ve never hear about, for that
alone, i thnk him..
==
AuntieMadder commented:
bg #25 – Right. Barky’s a fool but he’s not a complete doofus. The choices he makes are correct and in line with his agenda and goals. His goals and his agenda are those of a fool and he’s proving to be an overachiever.
bg commented:
++
MrGoodWench #23
eh, close enough..
==
Swifty commented:
Cut funding? I thought he would spend money on anything. Now I see he’s just like the Dems who didn’t want democracy for Iraq when we were first there and he bitched about himself even before he was a US senator, the job he quit mid-term as he lied his way into his current position.
AuntieMadder commented:
bg #29 – Thanks for sharing your POV about the Bushes and the NWO. As I said, I find it confusing. Your insight gives me food for thought.
Oh, and this much I do believe: Neither of the Bushes, nor even Bill Clinton who, as we know, is more involved with the NWO powers that be than are/were the Bushes, wanted/want to see the destruction of the US and her citizens. None of them hate/hated US, not even BClinton, if for no other reason than he knew which side buttered his bread. (Personally, I think that BClinton, even as selfish as he is/was, is/was proud of America and proud to be an American. The Arkansas hillbilly in him can’t help it. His wife, well, maybe not so much or maybe it’s she who is the incompetent doofus, caught up in helping a fool achieve his goals.)
bg commented:
++
sandmonkey
==
bg commented:
++
AuntieMadder #33
you’re welcome..
re: the Clintons, sorry, i disagree..
and i was a Clinton supporter right up until a few weeks after 9/11, and
tried to hang in there even after all i discovered.. sorry, but the Clintons
do not have the same basic morals required.. they will not only go along
to get along, but push it along if it’s to their advantage, whereas, others
buck the system best they can.. unfortunately for them & everyone else, it bucks them back so to speak..
bottom line re: The Clinton’s
“what’s love got to do with it”
uh-oh Al-Jazeera Live Stream via Egypt just went dead as a doornail..
please pray for those people, we could very
easily be them a few or so years from now..
==
bg commented:
++
re: #35 re: AJ
okay, it’s back on, but who really knows where the news is coming
from, they have much better Orwellian hackers than they used to
these days..
==
AuntieMadder commented:
bg #35 – Re: Bill Clinton…Maybe you’re right. Maybe I just didn’t see it because his hand was never forced, his bluff was never called, he was never forced to put up or shut up.
Sandy commented:
I have no love for Mubarak but Egypt and Israel are the two best friends the US has in the ME. I hope Mubarak hangs on — without Egypt Israel is surrounded by enemies and its very survival in this hostile neighborhood will be impossible at best.
reliapundit commented:
OBAMA CUT THOSE PROGRAMS TO APPEASE LEFTIST TYRANTS.
kahki commented:
Granny, mary_said_no, AuntieMadder, et al, It doesn’t seem like the US president is in charge of much of anything related to foreign policy or financial matters. Bush didn’t seem to be and Obama certainly isn’t. Sometimes I wonder if a secret coup took place within the government somewhere in the last 20 years, limiting presidential power to domestic issues and just putting a public face on things. It matters little what the president’s position is except for handing out allowance money the US doesn’t have for pet projects. Democracy is a farce, not unlike in Egypt.
KC commented:
“Does this burqa make my butt look big?”
(its so damn cumbersome)
SouthTXTRat commented:
Wuss, I’m ashamed
SouthTXTRat commented:
Burga, YES
wser2qtcttdes56 commented:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/protests-egypt_537418.html?nopager=1
it seems as if no one had learned from the failures of the Bush administration’s freedom agenda—namely the Palestinian Authority elections that empowered Hamas
Rose commented:
Meanwhile, Muslim Brotherhood “freedom fighters” are burning the place down, looting and robbing, pillaging…
How precious of them to cut to the heart of real freedom fighting. Oh, yeah!
Sarc Off
Cavalor Epthith, Esquire, D.S.V.J. commented:
The problem is that most of you commenting here have a too simplistic view of both foreign policy and realpolitik. That coupled with your bigotry toward the sitting American President renders you both willingly ignorant and gleefully impotent in regard to matters such as the change in political dynamics within the sovereign nation of Egypt.
bg commented:
++
Egypt: Live Stream
thousands of protesters gathering in square..
Egyptian fighter jets & helicopters have been buzzing square..
more tanks rolling in.. *sigh*
they are, more or less, shouting their version of
“give us liberty or give us death” back at them..
==
feduptoo commented:
For years, the USA is damned if they do, and damned if they don’t.
We have reached a point where we can no longer throw our money to foreign countries, year after year…why would we borrow money to give to foreign countries?
I have read several posts on other sites, most all of them want this to stop. Our politicians say they will cut
S.S., even thought they stole $2.5 trillion from the fund, and cuts to Medicare…all while they still hand out billions to foreign countries.
I do not think people will stand for the continuation of foreign aid at this time!
We have lost our jobs to foreign countries, had our money taken and given to them, blood of our soldiers spilled for them, and where has it gotten us?
We are still damned by foreigners!
At some point in time, one has to learn you cannot buy friendship or allies!
I am a Republican, but have changed my mind on foreign aid, as well a a few other policies.