This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/03/us-aid-favoured-groups-egypt
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US democracy programmes aided favoured groups in Egypt | US democracy programmes aided favoured groups in Egypt |
| (30 days later) | |
| Two months before Egyptian police stormed the offices of US-backed democracy organisations last year, seven Egyptian employees resigned from one of the American groups to protest what they called undemocratic practices. | Two months before Egyptian police stormed the offices of US-backed democracy organisations last year, seven Egyptian employees resigned from one of the American groups to protest what they called undemocratic practices. |
| They complained that the US group, described as nonpartisan, had excluded the country's most popular Islamist political organisation from its programmes, collected sensitive religious information about Egyptians when conducting polls to send to Washington, and ordered employees to erase all computer files and turn over all records for shipment abroad months before the raids. | They complained that the US group, described as nonpartisan, had excluded the country's most popular Islamist political organisation from its programmes, collected sensitive religious information about Egyptians when conducting polls to send to Washington, and ordered employees to erase all computer files and turn over all records for shipment abroad months before the raids. |
| "Our resignation is a result of many different practices we have been witnessing that seem suspicious and unprofessional," the Egyptian employees wrote in their 17 October resignation letter. | "Our resignation is a result of many different practices we have been witnessing that seem suspicious and unprofessional," the Egyptian employees wrote in their 17 October resignation letter. |
| This wasn't the democracy that Dawlat Soulam, one of those who quit, said she had hoped to deliver to Egypt when she went to work for the International Republican Institute. | This wasn't the democracy that Dawlat Soulam, one of those who quit, said she had hoped to deliver to Egypt when she went to work for the International Republican Institute. |
| Soulam, a New York City-born Egyptian with dual citizenship, and the others said they were troubled by work being done under the programmes run by Sam LaHood, the son of US transportation secretary Ray LaHood. | Soulam, a New York City-born Egyptian with dual citizenship, and the others said they were troubled by work being done under the programmes run by Sam LaHood, the son of US transportation secretary Ray LaHood. |
| "Are we doing something we want to hide from the Egyptians?" Soulam, in a telephone interview from Cairo, said she asked her bosses. "Are you playing a political agenda and you don't want to show that you want to take sides?" | "Are we doing something we want to hide from the Egyptians?" Soulam, in a telephone interview from Cairo, said she asked her bosses. "Are you playing a political agenda and you don't want to show that you want to take sides?" |
| IRI officials deny doing anything improper and dismiss the former employees as disgruntled. But the workers' small revolt, unknown to most, was significant because it reflected a growing sense in Egypt that US-backed democracy programmes were less about helping Egyptians and more about serving American interests. | IRI officials deny doing anything improper and dismiss the former employees as disgruntled. But the workers' small revolt, unknown to most, was significant because it reflected a growing sense in Egypt that US-backed democracy programmes were less about helping Egyptians and more about serving American interests. |
| Interviews and documents obtained by the Associated Press show that the workers' protest and the broader government crackdown with the raids helped expose what US officials do not want to admit publicly: the US government spent tens of millions of dollars financing and training liberal groups in Egypt, the backbone of the Egyptian uprising. This was done to build opposition to Islamic and pro-military parties in power, all in the name of developing democracy and all while US diplomats were assuring Egyptian leaders that Washington was not taking sides. | Interviews and documents obtained by the Associated Press show that the workers' protest and the broader government crackdown with the raids helped expose what US officials do not want to admit publicly: the US government spent tens of millions of dollars financing and training liberal groups in Egypt, the backbone of the Egyptian uprising. This was done to build opposition to Islamic and pro-military parties in power, all in the name of developing democracy and all while US diplomats were assuring Egyptian leaders that Washington was not taking sides. |
| "We were picking sides," said a senior US official involved in discussions with Egyptian leaders after last year's revolution swept President Hosni Mubarak from power after three decades. The official requested anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters. | "We were picking sides," said a senior US official involved in discussions with Egyptian leaders after last year's revolution swept President Hosni Mubarak from power after three decades. The official requested anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters. |
| Since the December raids, US officials have scrambled to repair their once close relationship with Egypt. But the damage wasn't done overnight or as a result of the raids. | Since the December raids, US officials have scrambled to repair their once close relationship with Egypt. But the damage wasn't done overnight or as a result of the raids. |
| Documents and interviews with US and Egyptian officials show: | Documents and interviews with US and Egyptian officials show: |
| US diplomats knew as far back as March 2008 that Egyptian leaders might close democracy programmes and arrest workers, and last year some even discussed the possibility of a stern Egyptian response to dumping $65m into democracy training after the Arab spring uprisings, a sharp increase from past spending. | US diplomats knew as far back as March 2008 that Egyptian leaders might close democracy programmes and arrest workers, and last year some even discussed the possibility of a stern Egyptian response to dumping $65m into democracy training after the Arab spring uprisings, a sharp increase from past spending. |
| Democracy training programmes with strong ties to the US political parties received the biggest share, $31.8m, and spent it with few strings attached. IRI refused to work with members of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, an Islamic group that holds more seats in the elected parliament than any other party in the country. IRI's Democratic counterpart, the National Democratic Institute, offered training and support to Brotherhood members. | Democracy training programmes with strong ties to the US political parties received the biggest share, $31.8m, and spent it with few strings attached. IRI refused to work with members of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, an Islamic group that holds more seats in the elected parliament than any other party in the country. IRI's Democratic counterpart, the National Democratic Institute, offered training and support to Brotherhood members. |
| Nearly six years before the Egyptian government filed charges against the US democracy workers, its leaders severely restricted the American democracy programmes after a controversy over public comments by IRI's director. | Nearly six years before the Egyptian government filed charges against the US democracy workers, its leaders severely restricted the American democracy programmes after a controversy over public comments by IRI's director. |
| The use of US money to support some groups over others appears to conflict with US agency for international development policy that requires "a good faith effort to assist all democratic parties, with equitable assistance". A senior USAID official, who requested anonymity because she was not authorised to speak publicly, said she was not aware that IRI had excluded members of the Muslim Brotherhood from its programmes. But she denied the agency picked sides when it distributed money to Egyptian or international groups. | The use of US money to support some groups over others appears to conflict with US agency for international development policy that requires "a good faith effort to assist all democratic parties, with equitable assistance". A senior USAID official, who requested anonymity because she was not authorised to speak publicly, said she was not aware that IRI had excluded members of the Muslim Brotherhood from its programmes. But she denied the agency picked sides when it distributed money to Egyptian or international groups. |
| Despite a US commitment to make public the details of its democracy aid program in Egypt, USAID has refused to identify all the groups that received money and the grant amounts. The official said the agency disclosed the list to Egyptian leaders, but will not release information publicly about grant recipients that don't want to be identified. That has surprised some state department officials. | Despite a US commitment to make public the details of its democracy aid program in Egypt, USAID has refused to identify all the groups that received money and the grant amounts. The official said the agency disclosed the list to Egyptian leaders, but will not release information publicly about grant recipients that don't want to be identified. That has surprised some state department officials. |
| "All I remember is, there were weekly meetings this time last year about how this all had to be posted publicly," said a senior state department official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly about sensitive diplomatic matters. More than a year after citizens rallied in Tahrir Square for new leadership, the US-Egypt relationship remains fragile. | "All I remember is, there were weekly meetings this time last year about how this all had to be posted publicly," said a senior state department official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly about sensitive diplomatic matters. More than a year after citizens rallied in Tahrir Square for new leadership, the US-Egypt relationship remains fragile. |
| The Egyptian government shut down US-funded democracy programmes. Islamic political groups that the US feared would gain greater control in Egypt are becoming more popular, already holding most seats in parliament and competing in the runoff for the presidency. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in the trial of 43 democracy workers, including 16 Americans, charged with illegally operating political, campaign and election training programmes financed with US and other foreign money. Most of the Americans are no longer in Egypt and are not expected to appear at the trial. | The Egyptian government shut down US-funded democracy programmes. Islamic political groups that the US feared would gain greater control in Egypt are becoming more popular, already holding most seats in parliament and competing in the runoff for the presidency. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in the trial of 43 democracy workers, including 16 Americans, charged with illegally operating political, campaign and election training programmes financed with US and other foreign money. Most of the Americans are no longer in Egypt and are not expected to appear at the trial. |
| The trial is expected to reveal what previously was a long-standing, at times heated, private argument between American and Egyptian officials over the US role in Egyptian governance. Some political leaders contend that the US has interfered in Egyptian affairs by directly financing political and campaign training programmes. The US organisations and government say the claim of interference and the spectacle of the trial are part of an effort to deflect anger from Egyptian leaders resisting democracy. | The trial is expected to reveal what previously was a long-standing, at times heated, private argument between American and Egyptian officials over the US role in Egyptian governance. Some political leaders contend that the US has interfered in Egyptian affairs by directly financing political and campaign training programmes. The US organisations and government say the claim of interference and the spectacle of the trial are part of an effort to deflect anger from Egyptian leaders resisting democracy. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |