American Money

It is the public’s right to know about the U.S. and European funds that have been received by certain parties. It is also the public’s right to know if these financial transactions took place in accordance with the law and the legitimate practices for the receipt of these funds. This question should not anger anyone who has received this type of financial support, nor should it anger the countries donating it.

Foreign funding is a worrying path to follow for Egyptians, as the groups that receive these funds may feel a responsibility to implement the agendas of the donor. It is not inconceivable that countries may offer funds out of the grace of God, or out of love for this or that, but it is also not inconceivable that they do it to achieve their own interests. A few days ago a U.S. Embassy statement mentioned opening the door to those wishing to receive funds or grants, promising an intervention in internal affairs. With this measure the embassy is circumventing the law governing the receipt of funds for all bodies inside Egypt. So here is the question: Where is the Egyptian rejection of this blatant U.S. interference that has no regard for the law??

The United States has a long record of this type of interference. In Dec. 2008, a center was established to support youth movements [the Alliance of Youth Movements]. The center held its first conference in New York City, and it included the participation of a number of prominent personalities — such as Jared Cohen, an official at Google and a close associate of Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice. This organization held two other conferences in Mexico and London, coinciding with American billionaire Peter Ackerman — who was the chairman of Freedom House from 2005-2009 — establishing a center in Belgrade. These centers are for young people from all sides, so that Americans have a hand in building civilized societies in the Middle East, among them Egypt.

Egyptian law criminalizes the acceptance of illegal funds by any institution or body, and countries around the world impose strict rules governing grants, donations and contributions. The United States itself prevents local organizations from accepting any foreign support. Therefore, I request that observers pay close attention to the funds entering Egypt and identify the donors. The government should be transparent regarding the size of the funds, the people involved, the bodies that are obtaining these grants, and in the case of a violation of the law, present evidence to the judiciary.

Honest people do not fear the actions taken by the government in this regard. Its aim is to protect Egyptian society from the vices of other countries, and condemn those groups that accept funds in violation of the law. In this case, the coalitions of the revolution must expel anyone proven to be connected to foreign funds, in order to preserve the revolution itself from those who would interfere.