http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2012/03/15/dot-return-to-business-as-usual-in-egypt-link-foreign-aid-to-democratic-progress-in-egypt/ Human Rights First builds respect for human rights and the rule of law to help ensure the dignity to which everyone is entitled and to stem intolerance, tyranny, and violence. Tue, 21 May 2013 11:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2012/03/15/dot-return-to-business-as-usual-in-egypt-link-foreign-aid-to-democratic-progress-in-egypt/#comment-117455 Tommy Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:20:07 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=17756#comment-117455 Josh made an interesting point. While doing research for competitive debate , I have seen many advocate increasing democracy assistance to Egyptian NGO's in order to achieve reforms. Given the seriousness of the SCAF's influence in the outcome NGO's, how do you think they would respond to your proposal as compared to simply giving aid to NGOs, while continuing to give the SCAF military assistance? By the way, your response will not be published but may be informally quoted in an intercollegiate debate round. Josh made an interesting point. While doing research for competitive debate , I have seen many advocate increasing democracy assistance to Egyptian NGO’s in order to achieve reforms. Given the seriousness of the SCAF’s influence in the outcome NGO’s, how do you think they would respond to your proposal as compared to simply giving aid to NGOs, while continuing to give the SCAF military assistance? By the way, your response will not be published but may be informally quoted in an intercollegiate debate round.

]]> http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2012/03/15/dot-return-to-business-as-usual-in-egypt-link-foreign-aid-to-democratic-progress-in-egypt/#comment-117399 Neil Hicks Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:59:50 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=17756#comment-117399 If the U.S. releases the military assistance unconditionally that would send the damaging message that the U.S. does not care about advancing human rights and democracy in Egypt. On the other hand, cutting or suspending the aid runs the risk of exacerbating anti-U.S. feelings in Egypt and thereby limiting the capacity of the U.S. to encourage the democratic transition. We are advocating a phased roll-out of the assitance package that would maintain U.S. influence, while indicating that Egypt's rulers must move forward with human rights reforms. If the U.S. releases the military assistance unconditionally that would send the damaging message that the U.S. does not care about advancing human rights and democracy in Egypt. On the other hand, cutting or suspending the aid runs the risk of exacerbating anti-U.S. feelings in Egypt and thereby limiting the capacity of the U.S. to encourage the democratic transition. We are advocating a phased roll-out of the assitance package that would maintain U.S. influence, while indicating that Egypt’s rulers must move forward with human rights reforms.

]]> http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2012/03/15/dot-return-to-business-as-usual-in-egypt-link-foreign-aid-to-democratic-progress-in-egypt/#comment-116960 Josh Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:19:47 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=17756#comment-116960 This all sounds well and good but what is the propensity that the SCAF will backlash to the idea of tying their military aid to reform? Could this potentially undermine the US-Egyptian relationship or cause the SCAF to crackdown harder on pro-democracy movements? This all sounds well and good but what is the propensity that the SCAF will backlash to the idea of tying their military aid to reform? Could this potentially undermine the US-Egyptian relationship or cause the SCAF to crackdown harder on pro-democracy movements?

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