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Debate over Kerry's pledge of aid to Egypt

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    All-Star panel weighs in

  • Duration 6:32
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It is and how about the central urgent.

That the Egyptian economy.

Get stronger that -- get back on its feet -- has to be a sense of security.

And that has to be a sense of economic and political viability.

Senator Kerry on his trip.

And Cairo meeting with Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi his Islamist government run by the Muslim Brotherhood and carry.

Had this statement about some specific.

Dollars today we're launching the Egyptian American enterprise fund -- and this initial installment of sixty million dollars.

In US government capital now rising to 300 million in coming years as we -- -- congress on funding this and other programs.

And -- of Egypt's extreme needs.

And president Morse is a Sharon's that the he plans to complete the IMF process today I advised in the United States will now provide.

The first 190 million of our -- 450 million.

Dollars in budget support funds in good faith effort to spur reform and help the Egyptian people at this difficult time.

We're back -- the panel.

Steve a lot of people here look at this and then look at the US.

And it's difficult time.

You and you know put the two together.

Yeah those are entirely legitimate questions as we've had to start coming off this this big fight over the sequester and the president complaining about not cutting off funding for things that don't don't even amount to that.

-- I think that that the central question here is.

Is our aid to Egypt doing.

More harm than good at this point and as somebody who's been critical of the administration for a long time for disengaging particularly in the region.

I think it's it's a hard question but if you look at the way that the more -- government is behaving with its.

Enabling of the -- -- groups it's making common cause with Jihad is even beyond.

The Muslim Brotherhood which is already.

A bad group the fact that they won't give us access to Mohammed Jamal -- -- who's one of the lead the ringleaders.

Of the attack and then got he trained many of the attackers and then got these babies won't give us access to them.

And here we are shoveling money.

And Egypt I think it's a big question right now and and at the very least we should condition our money on real political reforms and do it in a way that's measurable -- -- This is a problem with US policy.

Vis a vis Egypt going back into the bush administration and and before that the aid that we're getting is not measurable not quantifiable and we're not.

We're not judging outcomes in the way that we ought to be so we're gonna provide any -- at all which is a serious questions we -- the very least should be evaluating enough.

Almost exactly three years ago.

Dear Brothers.

We must not forget to nurse -- children and grandchildren.

On hatred toward the zionists and Jews.

And all those who support them.

You know so he's got you know -- history here and wall.

The US and State Department talk about the importance of the relationship between Egypt and and the giant broad implication in the Middle East.

-- look at the funding and you look at all of this.

Thoughts.

Well you know do United States is faced as Steve said with a difficult dilemma if it pulls out aid because we don't like what he said in the past and we're not so crazy about how he's he's moving forward or moving backward on reforms.

Then you -- perhaps have Egypt turning completely and utterly anti American we don't want that.

We want to somehow.

Nudged this post Mubarak.

Egypt into paid more.

Democratic pro western channel.

And making it contingent on reforms would seem to need to be the way to go and I think many in congress wanted to be that way -- And if you are gonna engagement -- we have to do.

The mistake of the administration is doing.

Is having the engagement.

And the money and that the support hinge on economic reform.

And I don't political reform the economic reform as Kerry said you know because he had to urge the egyptians.

-- to actually go ahead.

And to our request the money from the IMF.

And isn't exactly an economic reform -- onto -- two concession.

To us but the the economy in and of itself is not a US interest the only US interest is in the nature of this government.

It's a government that won the election but narrowly.

It's suppressing journalists -- suppressing the opposition opposition.

Is the boycotting the upcoming elections.

As a result of the fact that it's good -- surprised.

And we ought to be demanding political concessions as a reward for any kind of money and that economic concessions.

It's an elementary idea I I don't understand why the administration.

Doesn't see it it's our leverage we have to use if you don't want to lose each and you know want to disengage but you don't give them.

A free hand to do anything they want and simply say well he was elected so I have to accept everything he does.

There are you know there are increasing numbers of people out there who look at our financial system are our financial situation and say foreign aid should be among the first things that we look at.

Off the top.

Because they -- especially that the countries that that don't like is particularly we should look at that first.

There are many arguments on both sides of that.

Your thoughts.

But I believe Americans we have a country that's resolutely anti American I would -- -- penny but Egypt is in play.

It's got a government that has a history or regime.

That has issuing any American any Israeli and he said so some etiquette sector.

But it -- affect their complete Egypt's stimulus is science but that could go either way elections are coming as a very strong opposition that was out there in the streets.

Again it became a close second in the election so I wouldn't concede it.

I would -- supported but only on condition.

Plus article the question is is is the opposition strong and again can it be strengthened and the opposition is making sounds and it doesn't want to take our aid.

In any case I think it's a difficult situation.

Well chief Washington correspondent James Rosen will be talking with secretary of state John Kerry.

Tomorrow you can see that interview here on special report 6 PM eastern James -- has been on this trip all the way.

And we expect to see that interview tomorrow night.

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