The Debate On Aid to Egypt

In The Wall Street Journal today, I explain why I believe American law, interests, and values require a suspension of aid to Egypt. (The opposite side is taken by my friend John Bolton, in the Journal as well, here. The Journal sums up my argument this way: "By contravening U.S. law, the Obama administration is sending a dangerous message to Gen. Sisi." Not a bad summary.

Here’s the final paragraph of my article:

Those who wish to maintain the aid face a more dangerous risk: That soon the killings and repression will become too great to stomach or justify. When it gets to this point, Congress or the administration—which on Tuesday confirmed that it is in the middle of reviewing its aid programs to Egypt—will suspend assistance. This is where I believe we’ll end up in the coming weeks or months, but instead of having done it fast, according to law and as a statement of American values, we’ll have done it because we had no decent choices left.