A letter to Congress from Dr. Ben Chouake, NORPAC's president

Dear Member of Congress:

I have enclosed some material regarding our current policy of foreign aid to Egypt. We are proposing that members of Congress look to change the nature of the aid to Egypt from military credits to economic and social credits.

As we all know, Foreign aid should never be viewed as an entitlement. Rather, it is for the promotion of values, which are at the core of American and indeed all western civilization. Foreign aid should be awarded to encourage and protect the establishment of democratic institutions, the preservation of human rights, and the formulation of productive economic planning.

Unfortunately, Egypt, though often characterized as a moderate Arab country, has evinced a pronounced hostility toward these American values. Obvious examples of this are Egypt voting against America over 80% of the time in the United Nations and Egypt’s sabotage of the Durbin Conference. It is now clear that Egypt is not cooperating with the battle against terrorism and due to its state sponsored anti-western educational system and media is a breeding ground for terrorists. Moreover, despite having received over $50 billion in foreign aid since 1979, most Egyptians are destitute. The grinding poverty has been exacerbated by poor economic planning, government corruption, and an affinity for excessive military expenditures.

Given its lack of cooperation with America, its persecution of Coptic Christians, lack of human rights, and anti-western state sponsored media we question whether Egypt deserves any material amount of foreign aid. Our concern is elevated by the fact that the aid is used primarily to continue building an Egyptian war machine. We are arming to the teeth a totalitarian government in an unsteady region of the world. There is only one use for this kind of arms buildup. We fear it would be used against the only democratic country in the region, our chief ally, Israel or against America should the government change hands.

In discussing this position with a number of Congressional offices, we have found some concern about resulting instability of the Egyptian government that cutting aid might cause. Therefore, we propose that members of Congress change the aid to Egypt from military credits to economic and social credits. This is a win for the America, a win for American allies in the area, and a win for Egypt. The massive military buildup in Egypt is destabilizing. With the acknowledged precarious nature of Egypt’s government and the ever-present danger of its growing fundamentalist movement, it is far more in America’s interest to attend to the political, social, and economic needs of the Egyptian people so our country can help create a less desperate situation.

The economic impact to America is neutral, since the money comes in the form of credits to buy US goods. It would be better to let the Egyptian people buy American agriculture products, cars, computers, construction equipment, and other US goods. This policy would encourage peace and a more stable Egypt. It would also produce demand for American products beyond the scope of foreign aid.

Ben Chouake

President