Obama Pledges New Aid To Mideast Nations Embracing Democracy

[Purveyor]

Source: washingtonpost

By Scott Wilson and William Branigin,

Under pressure from key allies to act more decisively on several volatile issues in the Middle East and North Africa, President Obama on Thursday promised new U.S. aid to nations that embrace democracy while he also condemned attacks on demonstrators, notably in Syria.

Saying that the future of the United States is bound to the region in a number of ways, Obama said he was focused on “how we can respond in a way that advances our values and strengthens our security.”

In what was billed as a major speech meant to define U.S. interests in the region amid the wave of change known as the Arab Spring, Obama was unveiling a series of economic initiatives to encourage democracy there, including aid for Tunisia and a total of $2 billion in debt relief and loan guarantees for Egypt’s fledgling government.

Speaking at the State Department before an audience of U.S. diplomats, administration officials and foreign envoys, Obama made his first broad attempt to place the region’s wave of popular uprisings, which have swept away autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt and threatened several others, in the context of American interests and values. Aides said he felt it was importrant to address the armed rebellion in Libya, the uprising in Syria and the moribund peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-pledges-new-aid-to-mideast-nations-embracing-democracy/2011/05/19/AFBmhD7G_story.html

[DJ13]

1. Bad move at a time when DC claims theres not enough money for Americans

Slashing "entitlements" while throwing billions at outside countries is a stupid idea from a PR stand point.

[RKP5637]

2. Yeah, I was thinking the same. We have a country that is falling apart and

much of it is delegated to out of sight out of mind. The pilings of our country are rotting, yet we seem to be able to provide lots of rhetoric and cash to others. A lot of the things Obama was mentioning applies to this country too. We also have IMO a failing democracy and corruption.

[emilyg]

3. How about aid for America?

[lbrtbell]

4. EXACTLY!

Medicare and Medicaid, unemployment benefits, the whole bit. Sure beats propping up countries that will inevitably turn against us. :mad: