US Supports Egyptian President Even as Thousands Call For His Ouster

28 Jan 2011

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Inspired by the mass protests that brought down the Tunisian President Zine El Ben Ali, tens of thousands of Egyptians joined in street protests against rising food prices, joblessness and calling for an end to 30 years of emergency law and President Hosni Mubarak's rule, on 25 January 2011.

According to Al Jazeera, one police officer in Cairo and two civilians died amidst the rallies.

On the same day as the nationwide protests, US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, reiterated her confidence in the Mubarak regime by stating, "Our assessment is that the Egyptian government is stable and is looking for ways to respond the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people."

Since 1979, the US has been providing Egypt with US$1.3bn in military aid, the second largest after Israel. 

A 2009 report written by Ahmad Al-Sayed El-Naggar from the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies argues, "This aid is devoted mainly to strengthening the regime's domestic security and its ability to confront popular movements."

You can find this page online at http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/330.19.

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