Well Worth the Money

I really do think it is wrong to cut off aid to Egypt because of the coup.

One, can we spare a little nuance to understand that getting rid of the Mursi government was hardly an assault on democracy even though Mursi won an election?

Two, remember that our aid largely goes to the Egyptian military which is the most friendly institution in Egypt.

Three, remember that our aid is the price we pay to keep Israel and Egypt from going to war. Egypt was not a democracy when we started paying that money. It isn't now. So we're to halt the payment for the sin of briefly having the appearance of democracy and then losing it? When Egypt is abiding by the reason for the payments?

Sure, Egypt would lose a war with Israel. But any war would add to our problems in the Middle East and potentially end the use of the Suez Canal which is a convenient shortcut for our already stretched fleet in Central Command.

How many more ships would we need to maintain the same force in CENTCOM if we had to go around Africa or across the Indian Ocean from the Pacific?

And where would our Mediterranean presence come from if not from ships going to and from CENTCOM from our Atlantic ports, lingering for a bit and showing the flag as they transit the sea?

If we want to pressure Egypt, we have influence in the IMF and other bodies. Leave the aid alone unless Egypt overtly turns against us.