The eagerly anticipated decision on the fate of US aid to Egypt was finally made on October 9, 2013. In a carefully worded – albeit muddled – message, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced the “recalibration” of US assistance to Egypt, laying out the areas in which the US would and would not continue its partnership. It seems that the President has been unable to ignore domestic pressure to slash the $1.55 billion aid package to Cairo given the Egyptian military leadership’s excessive use of violence and the lack of progress toward civilian governance. However, Washington’s decision is risky, to say the least. US aid to Egypt is an investment in regional stability. It is not charity, nor is it a gift to be hastily withdrawn as soon as the political partners quarrel. Likewise, there is no guarantee that the withdrawal of aid will forestall future atrocities or prevent consolidation of an undemocratic system. In fact, the opposite is more likely.
