Mahmoud Abdullah al-Baz Writes: After the Revolution, American Aid Is… Egyptian!

American aid represents 57 percent of all foreign aid received by Egypt, including aid from the European Union, Japan and others. Totaling $2.1 billion, this aid does not exceed 2 percent of Egypt’s annual national income. Of the $2.1 billion, $815 million comes in the form of economic aid, while the remaining $1.3 billion goes to the military. Egypt began receiving this aid from the United States following the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Agreement in 1979, though the United States had been sending aid since 1953 in the form of wheat as a show of good faith. The motives behind the aid were ostensibly humanitarian, but in actuality were political; the food aid remained unspecified and intermittent until the signing of the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. Today, America pays this aid in the form of goods and military services like equipment, weapons, spare parts, advisers and training, but not monetary aid as Israel receives.

There were hints of cutting off the aid after the crisis that broke out recently between the United States and Egypt regarding the financing of civil society organizations. This instance was not the first time and will not be the last; it has been this way for the last 59 years. The United States always uses its aid as leverage against Egypt to achieve its political interests, maintain its economic and political superiority and expand its influence.

The Egyptian people recovered their dignity and freedom in the glorious revolution of Jan. 25. Having done so, we have to say to America, “That’s enough!” We have to stop the lie of American aid, but only on the condition that the Egyptian people will work towards an improved economy. So, when the Islamic preacher Sheikh Muhammad Hassan launched an initiative under the title “Egyptian Aid for Replacing American Aid,” he found that there was a quick response from the Egyptian people to participate in the program. Hassan said that he trusts the Egyptian people and that he will collect many times what comes from American aid, since people from all levels of society will take part in the initiative. He pointed out that work will begin on the program as soon as possible following the agreement of the Sheikh of al-Azhar, who will establish “The Fund of Pride and Dignity” with the goal of collecting between 500 and 1,000 billion Egyptian pounds.

The Sheikh of al-Azhar decided to activate the initiative through the formation of the al-Azhar fund, which will collect money and direct it toward the interests of the country. Dr. Ahmed al-Taib said that this program is a reaction by Egyptians to ongoing and increasing attempts by the United States in the wake of the revolution to bully the new Egyptian administration, expand American influence and interfere in Egyptian affairs through hints of playing the aid card. He pleaded to all Egyptians, both inside the country and abroad, to respond to the initiative. The reaction to the program began before it was put into effect, proving that Egyptians are able to free themselves from domination in the wake of the revolution and that they have become confident in their ability to monitor the government and hold it accountable for every Egyptian pound that enters the state treasury. This even applies to spending by Parliament, which Egyptians elected by their own free will to represent them and defend their rights.

When Egypt officially announces that it will replace American aid with its own, I believe that the world’s view of us will change. If Egyptians insist on refusing the aid, it will free the country from American influence over its decision making, and the United States and its allies will suffer a great loss — more than what Egypt might lose. It will also mark the beginning of the end of the age in which Arab powers groveled at the feet of America. We must learn that if we refuse the American aid, the United States will not accept it and will make threats. But they will be unable to carry them out. America cannot afford to lose its political and strategic interests in the region or its ability to maintain the security of Israel by containing Egypt as per the Camp David Accords because it cannot offer any aid unless it is sure that it will benefit American national security interests.

The existence of American aid to Egypt is both absurd and unwelcome. In the wake of the revolution, the Egyptian people will not permit anyone to usurp Egyptian authority through hints of cutting off aid, especially when that aid was originally an expression of mutual interests rather than a “gift” foisted upon Egypt by the United States!