Caution Needed in Egypt Aid Policy

As the situation in Egypt remains volatile, debate continues regarding the appropriate role of the United States in bringing about a peaceful resolution to unrest in this vital Middle Eastern nation. Although it remains unclear which faction will ultimately assume control of Egypt's government -- or even what form of government the protests may achieve -- some are already calling for the U.S. government to suspend aid to the our long-time ally. Taking any such binding action would be premature at this point and could even have unintended consequences detrimental to our long-term interests.

It is important to note that America's association with Egypt is not limited to only President Hosni Mubarak. Our respective militaries have a longstanding cooperative relationship. Over the course of our 30-year alliance, hundreds of Egyptian soldiers and their families have lived here while receiving training at U.S. military academies. In fact, an Egyptian military delegation arrived in Washington for the annual meeting of the U.S. Egypt Military Cooperation Committee, coincidentally, just as the street protests were beginning. The 25-member Egyptian delegation met for several days with U.S. military officials as the protests escalated in Cairo.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cautioned against cutting off aid immediately, describing the $1.5 billion in annual U. S. support as "an investment that has paid off for a long, long time." Admiral Mullen said he is in frequent contact with his Egyptian counterparts, who have assured him that the military will remain neutral and has no intention of using force against its own people to quell the uprising. Columnist Charles Krauthammer describes the "Western-oriented" Egyptian military as the "most stable and important institution in the country" and "the best vehicle for guiding the country to free elections over the coming months."

It is impossible to predict the outcome of potential elections or what role the military will play as events continue to unfold. However, it is undeniable that U.S. aid has been a stability-promoting source of leverage in Egypt for decades. Threatening to preemptively withdraw support while the situation is still evolving could limit our influence during this pivotal time.

As we work to balance the budget, all spending must be considered eligible for cuts, and aid to Egypt is no exception. We will certainly take a hard look at all foreign aid to ensure any spending is justified in terms of both our national security interests and our fiscal needs. At this time, however, we should proceed with caution.