Thread: US sending 20 more F-16s to Egypt, despite turmoil in Cairo

US sending 20 more F-16s to Egypt, despite turmoil in Cairo

By Maxim Lott
Published December 10, 2012
FoxNews.com

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  Turmoil in Egypt isn't stopping a shipment of 20 F-16 fighter jets, including this one - already emblazoned with Egypt's flag. (Courtesy: Carl Richards)

Instability in Egypt, where a newly-elected Islamic government teeters over an angry population, isn't enough to stop the U.S. from sending more than 20 F-16 fighter jets, as part of a $1 billion foreign aid package.

The first four jets are to be delivered to Egypt beginning Jan. 22, a source at the naval air base in Fort Worth, where the planes have been undergoing testing, told FoxNews.com. The North African nation already has a fleet of more than 200 of the planes and the latest shipment merely fulfills an order placed two years ago. But given the uncertainty in Cairo, some critics wonder if it is wise to be sending more top gun planes.

“Should an overreaction [by Egypt] spiral into a broader conflict between Egypt and Israel, such a scenario would put U.S. officials in an embarrassing position of having supplied massive amounts of military hardware … to both belligerents,” said Malou Innocent, a foreign policy analyst at the Cato Institute. “Given Washington's fiscal woes, American taxpayers should no longer be Egypt’s major arms supplier.”

“Given Washington's fiscal woes, American taxpayers should no longer be Egypt’s major arms supplier.”

The U.S. government ordered and paid for the fighter jets for Egypt's military as part of foreign aid for Egypt back in 2010, when Hosni Mubarak ruled. The fighter jets were supposed to be delivered in 2013, and delivery will go ahead as scheduled even though Hosni Mubarak has been removed from power and replaced by Mohamed Morsi, who led the Muslim Brotherhood before becoming Egypt's president.

Morsi was democratically elected, but last month attempted to seize dictatorial powers for himself. After widespread protests and violence in Egypt's capital of Cairo, Morsi backed off from his power grab. But he is pushing through a controversial new constitution for Egypt that would more strictly enforce Islamic Shariah law, and only recently said he reserves the right to have the military arrest protesters without charges.

"The Morsi-led Muslim Brotherhood government has not proven to be a partner for democracy as they had promised, given the recent attempted power grab," a senior Republican congressional aide told FoxNews.com.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, recently criticized U.S. military aid to Egypt:

“The Obama administration wants to simply throw money at an Egyptian government that the president cannot even clearly state is an ally of the United States,” Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said.

The $213 million order, which is paid for by U.S. taxpayers and is part of Egypt's foreign aid package from America, had to be approved by lawmakers in Washington.While the basic F-16 has been a military workhorse for top air forces for more than 25 years, the cockpit electronics are constantly updated and the models Egypt is getting are the best defense contractor Lockheed Martin makes.

"This is a great day for Lockheed Martin and a testament to the enduring partnership and commitment we have made to the government of Egypt," said John Larson, vice president, Lockheed Martin F-16 programs. "We remain committed to providing our customer with a proven, advanced 4^th Generation multirole fighter."

"In an air combat role, the F-16's maneuverability and combat radius exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft," the U.S. Air Force description of the plane reads.

"The F-16 can fly more than 500 miles, deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions."
A Pentagon spokesman said the U.S. and Egypt have an important alliance that is furthered by the transfer.
"The U.S.-Egypt defense relationship has served as the cornerstone of our broader strategic partnership for over thirty years," said Lt. Col. Wesley Miller. "The delivery of the first set of F-16s in January 2013 reflects the U.S. commitment to supporting the Egyptian military's modernization efforts. Egyptian acquisition of F-16s will increase our militaries' interoperability, and enhance Egypt's capacity to contribute to regional mission sets."





Read more: US sending 20 more F-16s to Egypt, despite turmoil in Cairo | Fox News

Egypt Gets US Fighter Jets Despite Turmoil



Yep it's Time for Israel to be shaking in their shorts as Obama arms the Muslim Brotherhood with Advanced F-16's and Arming Terrorist Organizations with a Proxy War against Syria

If it looks like a Caliphate, Walks like a Caliphate, Talks Like a Caliphate

http://www.alipac.us/f19/obamas-syri...3/#post1317492

http://www.alipac.us/f19/democracy-c...onents-268584/

I have a problem with supporting a government that does this. Religious persecution is NOT acceptable.

Sarah Carr
Egypt Independent

Court sentences Coptic activist to 3 years for insulting Islam
Wed, 12/12/2012 - 15:19

Mahmoud Khaled
A Cairo court sentenced activist Alber Saber to three years in prison for insulting Islam Wednesday.
Marg Misdemeanor Court found Saber guilty of "contempt of religion" after he allegedly posted online parts of the amateur film "Innocence of Muslims" that had sparked protests around the Muslim world, state-run news agency MENA reported.

Prosecutors also accused Saber of running a Facebook page that “promoted extremist ideas” and atheism, as well as insulting the divine, prophets and Islamic and Chirstian religious rites and describing God as weak.
Defense lawyer Hamdy Al-Assiouty described the verdict as difficult, saying that the court ruling was a continuation of the "invalid" legal procedures conducted throughout the case, beginning with the police and public prosecutors.

"I expected this verdict," he said. "It was clear from the way that the court treated the case — the difficulty the defense had in obtaining case documents and the obstacles placed in our way while we were trying to raise a defense — that it would issue such a verdict."

Another member of Saber's legal team, lawyer Ahmed Ezzet, said that the verdict is "extremely unjust." Like Assiouty, he emphasized that the procedures followed in the case and the evidence presented against Saber are all invalid.

Ezzet added that Saber was supposed to be released pending an appeal after his representatives paid LE1,000 bail, but that the court instead ordered him returned to prison.

Ezzet expects that Saber will be released after the weekend and expects his appeal to be heard in two to three weeks.

Amnesty International and local human rights organizations have called for Saber's release throughout the case.

"Alber Saber Ayad is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression and should be released immediately and unconditionally," Amnesty International said in a statement in October.

Insulting Islam is considered a crime in Egypt under Article 98(f) of the Penal Code, which stipulates "Confinement for a period of not less than six months and not exceeding five years … shall be the penalty inflicted on whoever makes use of religion in propagating, either by words, in writing, or in any other means, extreme ideas for the purpose of inciting strife, ridiculing or insulting a heavenly religion or a sect following it, or damaging national unity.”

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/court-sentences-coptic-activist-3-years-insulting-islam?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook