Give Egypt’s foreign aid money to Libya?

**Posted by Phineas

Interesting idea from Michael Totten:

Almost everything that happened in Libya was the reverse of what happened almost everywhere else.

The Libyan exception began with the terrorist attack on Sept. 11 at the consulate in Benghazi. For a while it looked as if Libya’s reaction to the video might be the worst in the world, but that didn’t last. The assassination of Ambassador Stevens wasn’t part of a mob action or a hysterical demonstration. On the contrary: Spontaneous protests have erupted throughout the country, but not against the U.S. or a crackpot videographer out in Los Angeles. The Libyan protesters have stood squarely against the terrorists who killed Stevens and against the militias that have been running amok since Moammar Gadhafi was lynched last year in Sirte.

Libyan demonstrators have displayed moving, hand-written signs: “Sorry people of America.” “Benghazi is against terrorism.” “Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans.” “Thugs and killers don’t represent Benghazi or Islam.” That’s what Libyans were saying while people elsewhere flew bin-Ladenist flags and set cars and buildings on fire. And it wasn’t just talk. The Libyan government swiftly arrested dozens of suspects following the Sept. 11 attacks. Ten days later, thousands of demonstrators in Benghazi seized the headquarters of an Islamist militia and forced its inhabitants to flee with their guns into the desert.

And let’s not forget Libya’s President, Mohammed el-Magarief, who’s been much more honest and forthright about what happened in his country than our own government.

I’ve often described the Obama administration’s foreign policy as “hug our enemies, slap our friends.” Perhaps it’s time to reverse that (1) and reward those who are the enemies of our enemies?

We need intelligence from North Africa, but Egypt is lost for the foreseeable future, so why keep giving them taxpayer money? Why give Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohammed Morsi, who demands the release of the Blind Sheikh and that we respect values antithetical to our own, another penny? Why not rebuild our position in another country, instead, which seems to share at least some of our interests?

Why not Libya?

Footnote:
(1) Sadly, that will have to wait for another administration. One that has actual adults in charge.

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)

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