Egypt Putting 19 Americans, Including Transportation Sec’s Son, on Trial Over Funds
- Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:21pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Sam LaHood, son of Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, is one of 19 Americans Egypt will put on trial over funds. (AP)
CAIRO (AP) — Ignoring a stern U.S. threat, Egypt on Sunday referred 43 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, to trial before a criminal court for allegedly using illegal foreign funds to foment unrest.
(Related: Transportation Sec. LaHood: Son Feels ‘Safe’ Despite Being Detained in Egypt)
The decision marked a sharp escalation of the dispute between Cairo and Washington over Egypt’s crackdown on U.S.-funded groups promoting democracy and human rights. The two countries have been close allies for more than three decades, but the campaign against the organizations has angered Washington, and jeopardized the $1.5 billion in aid Egypt is set to receive from the U.S. this year.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Egypt’s foreign minister that failure to resolve the dispute may lead to the loss of American aid. The Egyptian minister, Mohammed Amr, responded Sunday by saying the government cannot interfere in the work of the judiciary.
“We are doing our best to contain this but … we cannot actually exercise any influence on the investigating judges right now when it comes to the investigation,” Amr told reporters at a security conference in Munich, Germany.
Among the Americans sent to trial is Sam LaHood, the head of the Egypt office of the Washington-based International Republican Institute and the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Five Serbs, two Germans and three non-Egyptian Arab nationals are also among those referred to trial.
All 43 have been banned from leaving the country. A date has yet to be set for the start of the trial.
The Egyptian investigation into the work of NGOs in the country is closely linked to the political turmoil that has engulfed the nation since the ouster nearly a year ago of Hosni Mubarak, a close U.S. ally who ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years. The generals who took power after Mubarak’s fall have accused “foreign hands” of being behind protests against their rule and frequently depict the protesters as receiving funds from abroad in a plot to destabilize the country.
Those allegations have cost the youth activists that spearheaded Mubarak’s ouster support among a wider public that is sensitive to allegations of foreign meddling and which sees a conspiracy to destabilize Egypt in nearly every move by a foreign nation.
But Sunday‘s decision to refer the 43 to trial raises questions about the Egyptian military’s motive to allow the issue to escalate so much that the valuable $1.3 billion it gets annually be placed in jeopardy. Washington also is set to give Egypt $250 million in economic aid this year.
The U.S. assistance has allowed the Egyptian military to replace its relatively antiquated Soviet-era weaponry with modern and sophisticated arms, ranging from fighter-bombers and transport aircraft to tanks and personnel carriers. The aid is closely but informally linked to Egypt’s continued adherence to its 1979 peace treaty with Israel, Washington’s closest Middle East ally.
Already, Egyptian authorities are preventing at least six Americans – including LaHood – and four Europeans from leaving the country, citing a probe opened last month when heavily armed security forces raided the offices of 17 pro-democracy and rights groups. Egyptian officials have defended the raid as part of a legitimate investigation into the groups’ work and funding.
Also Sunday, security officials said Mubarak, 83, would shortly be moved to a prison for the first time since his arrest last April. Mubarak has since his arrest been kept in custody in a hospital at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and later at an army’s medical facility east of Cairo.
They said Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim pledged in a meeting on Sunday to upgrade the medical facility in Tora prison south of Cairo in “record time,” but did not set a date for the move. Mubarak is on trial on charges of complicity in the killing of hundreds of protesters during the 18-day uprising that forced him to step down.
The officials also said that around 50 former regime insiders held at Tora would be dispersed to five different jails in the greater Cairo area within the next 48 hours. They include Mubarak’s two sons, businessman Alaa and one-time heir apparent Gamal, two former prime ministers and the former speakers of parliament’s two chambers.
The decision to move Mubarak and spread the regime officials appeared to be a concession by the military to pro-reform activists who complain that the ruling generals led by Mubarak’s defense minister for 20 years were treating the ousted leader with reverence and turning a blind eye to former regime officials clustered in Tora to use supporters to undermine security.
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Comments (83)
USAqh
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:51pmHow many of the detainees are Andy Stern‘s ’Worker‘s of the World Unite’ people?
Report Post »Patrick Henry II
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 9:03pmExactely my thought. I think I am going to wait before jumping to judgement of this act. I believe that we need to find out what these “pro-democracy” groups were doing. Are these the ones training the community orangizers there?
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:46amSo, the headline really is “19 Americans held by Egyptian government and threatened with trial”.
Of course, these folks could have been Obama Administration operatives actually seeking to help topple the government. Where’s the list of names? I’d like to know who got popped.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:22amDoes it sound like another scenario that Obama will use to prove to the people of America that he is KING and has the power to be the world problem solver. ……just sayin this will be used for campaign purposes and photo ops. My question is, is a real situation or a setup?
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 7:18amRay LaHood’s son is a liberal Democrat, as far as im concerned , they can be head him ! Gotta love the arab spring thing ! Just ask Ruth Buzzy Ginsberg !!! She was just there last week…
Report Post »Paulbot
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:34amGood for Egypt. I hope they are found guilty. Watch impotent Obama have to get on his knees to get any other country to do anything for America. Hahahaha
Report Post »ghostsouls
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:19pmI feel for ALL the people detained, but face it, if La Hood’s son was not among this bunch this would not even be topping any news headline. La Hood’s son is the only reason it is getting the attention it is getting. Other’s that have been detained for YEARS… didn’t even get honorable mentions at the end of the evening news casts.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:43pmPresident Obama, State Department, and Hillary Clinton will all have plenty of egg on their faces if and when this is resolved. But, ironically this could be similar to President Carter’s Irarian hostage situation at the end of his term.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:42pmI believe many of them moved to the U.S. Embassy this past week.
In which case, we can expect another announcement that Seal Team Six (or some other unit) has swept in and evacuated them all in the middle of the night… and obama will go on and on and on and on and on about how HE gave the “okay” for it !
I couldn’t be more proud of our military !!!
I fully expect they will save the day again !!!
UNLESS obama PROVES HE IS ANOTHER JIMMY CARTER and gives us another Iran hostage crisis!!
Report Post »Remember Ross Perot? 1979? Ross Perot had to send in HIS OWN EMPLOYEES to rescue his own executives in iran ! Black helicopters in the middle of the night. Covert ops. The whole nine yards!
…
NO THANKS TO JIMMY CARTER !!!
Zcat
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:33pmNo sympathy for them here.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:14pmI’m with you. Let’s see what Obama does for his friends. Which side are his friends?
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:18pmIf you are stupid enough to go there, you must be snart enough to get out…Tough noogies.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 7:24pmAs I recall, there were some US nationals, with NGO status, that got into a heap o’ trouble for throwing Molotov cocktails off of the top of buildings during the demonstrations. I don’t believe the Egyptian authorities took very kindly to their behavior. Do you suppose these were the same folks?
If they are, then it may explain why the Egyptians have taken such an interest in them.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 7:46pmThese probably weren’t the same folks, but foreign organizations getting involved with the political processes of other countries do not tend to make friends with the authorities.
They should know better!
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 8:51pmHow long ago was it that Glenn Beck showed it was Obama’s Union friends stirring up the insurgency in Egypt? That Ray LaHood’s son is over there lobbying is just more proof. No doubt Obama will offer Egypt another $1 Billion of taxpayer money for the return of his political supporters. That money in return will be used in Palastine and the Gaza strip launching weapons against Israel.
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:22pmGood afternoon Mr President! How is your Arab Spring doing?
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:21pmExactly, what was that about the smartest guy in the room? Lets see if NBC even covers this story. Please quote me Rachel Maddow, Sargeant Ed Schultz (I know nothing!), Joe Scarborough.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:22pmSorry for the typo, should be Sergeant Ed (I know nothing!) Schultz.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:27pmWorthy of a Nobel Peace Prize…….
Report Post »malcolm030
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:51pmBesides the people who are trapped, has anyone relized that as broke as our country is right now, we are still giving Egypt billions of dollars???!!!?? We should be calling our congress NOW!!!!!
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 7:57pmHope & Change in Egypt!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:22pmEgypt sets a value to their Pound (Currency)… that is greater than any Common Sense Exchange Rate… so they demand that all Foeeign Currency entering the Country be Converted at a State Bank. But, many people ignore this Law… and directly use Foreign Currency or exchange it on the Black Market.
I would guess… all are GUILTY!
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:11pmuh oh!! The Liberals were trying to get their form of “democracy” in Egypt?!?! Just because they are Americans DOES NOT give them the right to mess with another country! Sure they were trying OWS tactics…….unions are NOT in shariah law folks :)
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:10pmNo one describes the NGOs better than Phyllis Schlafly who has watched them for decades: “The NGOs are energetic lobbyists for dramatic changes in the mission and structure of the UN to achieve global governance. Most NGOs are also members of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which originated many of the global environmental polices set forth in the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Climate Change, and Agenda 21. The most prominent NGOs are the radical environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and the feminist and population-control groups such as Planned Parenthood.”
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:09pm$1.5 billion in aide this year, in jeopardy. Hmas ain’t gonna like that. There are misslies to bought, insurgents to be paid. You got any idea what 6 dozen virgins cost in that p;art oif the world?!!
Report Post »Polarized America
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:27pm$1.5 billion in aide this year. ( welfare ) ..I want everyone in that Country to take a pee test !!
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:05pmTHIS is what democracy looks like!! Can you belive anybody would DARE screw with the USA, monetarily. .. .
Report Post »bjornskis
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:05pmnot exactly Irish spring
Report Post »justangry
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:04pmAny NGO’s tied to Occupy?
Report Post »Gamaliel
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:04pm“The decision marked a sharp escalation of the dispute between Cairo and Washington over Egypt’s crackdown on U.S.-funded groups promoting democracy and human rights.”
Maybe Egypt is correct here if Obama is funding groups promoting “democracy and human rights”.
Report Post »Accusations of fomenting unrest and funding the much praised “Arab Spring” are probably accurate.
AJAYW
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:00pmObamas brothers in the muslim brotherhood -
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:57pmThe NGO Army of George Soros & Maurice Strong http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/29827
Billionaire Soros gives NGO $100 million http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/09/07/Billionaire-Soros-gives-NGO-100-million/UPI-93201283876577/
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:09pmI am not endorsing the radical Islamists, but they are correct about these NGO’s. Do your homework folks, NGO’s are “change” agents for the NWO.
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:57pmSend Jimmy Carter, he did such a good job with Iran in 78.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:02pmSend Hillary she did such a good job in 2011! Better yet send Clapper- just leave him for contingencies.
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:55pmNGO’s=Soros This is a way Soros and his army of “human rights” activists foment revolutions.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:52pmNo its time to pull Americas nose out of the A$$es of our enemies mind our own buisness unless they make it our buisness by screwing with us.Dang what ever happened to common sence?Ok waitI know we are not getting enough oxygen due to muslim hinney….eeewwww
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:43pm.
But Daddy! You said Obama would jump on Air Force One, fly over Bend Over for Them,
and everything was gonna be alright……….
Hello? Daddy? Hello!! You said Obama PROMISED…(sobs) Hello Daddy are you there?…..
You said Obama PROMISED…(sobs) You said Obama PROMISED…(sobs) You said Obama PROMISED…(sobs) ……
Report Post »momrules
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:40pmI’m not happy for anyone in the situation these people are in but I do like the look of Obama with egg on his face.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:52pmImagine the spinning going on at MSDNC, ABC, CBS, CNN .. etc .. all MSM ..trying to make this a pro-Obama moment.
Report Post »LIBS-ARE-DINGLEHEADS
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:35pmHey Obama! Nice job! You gave them an inch, they snatched a whooooole BUNCH of Americans.
I cannot WAIT to see how he can blame Bush for this one (and you know he and the left will try)
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:33pmThe sweet smell of the Obama endorsed Arab Spring…coming to your town again soon….
Report Post »Thanks, Barry…
The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:33pmIt’s a game of chicken. We’re threatening to deny the foreign aid we normally give them…and they want it AND a sizable bribe under the table…which they will use to arm themselves against us.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:44pmBut, but but, they are a Peaceful Religion………why would they do this. We liked them on facebook and everything. Obama put little hears over his i’s when he sent them a Valentines card. Maybe if we really kiss their butts, really hard and long, they will like us then.
Report Post »BADDOGGYDESCIPLE
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:30pmThis is what happens when you give entire countries to the MB. Hard to believe that the son of a cabinet member is being held against his will. Has La Hood authorized the sacrifice of his son for the promotion of Islam? Looks that way. At least Russia and China stepped in regarding Syria. Russia has already lost part of their country to Islam, they know what happens when you show weakness. This administration is literally the biggest ally of radical islam. More has been accomplished in the name of radical islam in the last two years than in the previous 30.
Report Post »angeleyes63
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 7:35pmYa BADDOGGY you are right just remember Isalm has historicaly allied it’s evil self with bad actors, commie obama will gladly work with islam to bring about our demise.
Report Post »TxSon
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:29pmTime to Seal Team 6 to go in and pull them out?
Report Post »momrules
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:38pmNo, No No……….It‘s Bowe Bergdahl’s turn.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:18pmNo send obama to get them or exchange him and hillery for them. They are the ones that got this all started let them face the investigation.
Report Post »thetroll01
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:55pmNope! Let “Blood-and-Guts” Obummer go in and get them.
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