Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAid-for-Leverage Failed in Pakistan—It Won't Work in Egypt
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/08/aid-for-leverage-failed-in-pakistan-it-wont-work-in-egypt/278327/Supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gesture and shout slogans during a protest at the Rabaa Adawiya square where they are camping in Cairo on August 2, 2013. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)
As the Egyptian army continued its violent crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood this week, White House officials said that the United States can't cut off its $1.3 billion a year in aid to Egypt. To do so would cause Washington to lose "influence" with the country's generals. Vital American security interests are at stake, they argued, and keeping the torrent of American aid flowing gives Washington leverage.
If that argument sounds familiar, it is. For the last decade, the United States has used the same logic in Pakistan. Washington has given $11 billion in military aid to the Pakistani army in the name of maintaining American "influence" in Islamabad. From new equipment to reimbursements for Pakistani military operations, the money flowed year after year, despite complaints from American officials that the Pakistanis were misusing funds and inflating bills.
Can the United States do better in Egypt? Pakistan and Egypt are vastly different, but as the Obama administration fervently embraces its Pakistan approach in Egypt, it's worth examining the results of its dollars-for-generals strategy.
A decade on, little has changed in Pakistan. The country's military continues to shelter the Afghan Taliban, hundreds of American and Afghan soldiers have died in cross-border attacks from Taliban safe havens in Pakistan, and the Pakistani army remains by far the most powerful institution in the country.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 774 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (3)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Aid-for-Leverage Failed in Pakistan—It Won't Work in Egypt (Original Post)
xchrom
Aug 2013
OP
Vattel
(9,289 posts)1. The US should focus more on humanitarian aid.
We were hugely popular in Pakistan after we delivered earthquake relief there. War and drones have substantially reduced that popularity.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)2. That may mean actually handing over hard dough
instead of recycling taxpayers funds straight into the MIC. Can't really see the US doing that.
Vattel
(9,289 posts)3. true but emergency relief efforts like the one in Pakistan
were executed partly by the military.