Obama Middle East Speech: President Will Announce Billions In Economic Aid to Egypt,

[High_Gravity]

Obama Middle East Speech: President Will Announce Billions In Economic Aid to Egypt, Tunisia

Throwing more money into the laps of people that hate us, same shit different day I suppose.

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce plans Thursday to funnel billions of dollars in economic aid to Egypt and Tunisia as part of a broader effort to inject democracy into the Middle East and North Africa.

Obama will unveil a massive package of economic measures, including up to $1 billion in debt relief and another $1 billion in loan guarantees, during a speech on U.S.-Middle East policy set for Thursday morning at the State Department. Other pieces of the package include a new trade partnership with the region and a fund for stimulating regional private sector investments.

In a Wednesday preview of the speech, senior administration officials said the U.S. singled out Tunisia and Egypt for economic help because they are the best positioned countries to serve as role models for democratic reform in the area, which has been gripped by anti-government protests in recent months.

Since December, there have been revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, a civil war in Libya and civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria and Yemen. Major protests have also broken out in Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco and Oman.

"We do see [Tunisia’s and Egypt’s] success as a positive incentive for others in the region who are also working on a reform agenda," said one administration official.

The president’s speech will focus largely on the need to tie economic modernization to democratic change. He will note that the nonviolent protests in the region have stemmed largely from large populations of frustrated young people who can’t find work. Obama will also emphasize that the aid package will include strong safeguards to ensure that no money is siphoned off by corrupt officials and that "new governments there are taking this seriously," said the official.

None of the money requires new spending from Congress; the White House has been working behind the scenes with key appropriators to re-program existing funds for Egypt and other programs to fund the new initiatives. Lawmakers “have given their thoughts as well in helping to design some of these initiatives," said another senior administration official.

Obama Middle East Speech: President Will Announce Billions In Economic Aid to Egypt, Tunisia

 

[Trajan]

well 2 billion isn't the end of the world, worth a shot(?), I don't see it buying mnuch but this is his policy, the hand out in friendship thing didn't work, maybe some baksheesh, I doubt it though.


his israeli - pali FP is 'blowed up reel good' and over till the 2012 election. so why not try this.