The transition government of Egypt has decided put on trial 43 NGO workers ,including 19 Americans . Their crime ? ;Attempting to bring democracy and a civil society to Egypt post- 'Arab Spring' revolution .(the actual bogus charge is inciting protests against the nation's military rulers) .Seven are in Egyptian custody ;and the others have taken sanctuary in the US embassy. Among those held is Sam LaHood, son of a cabinet member ,Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood (former Republic Rep.from Illinois).

Speaking to Charlie Rose ,Ray LaHood said : "I understand what has been written. But this is the first time that NGOs have ever really come under this kind of attack by a government, in any country. These NGOs have been working for years, Charlie, in democracy-building efforts, and they thought they were well within their right to do it. So it's a little bit puzzling to many people what's happening there."
LaHood: U.S. working to resolve Egypt NGO trial - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505266_162-57380036/lahood-u.s-working-to-resolve-egypt-ngo-trial/)

He is 100% correct ,NGO workers should not be subject to this type of intimidation. But even as important ;this represents a direct challenge to the United States ;a contributor of direct aid to Egypt to the tune of $1.5 billion annually. (Actually I'm thinking that the Egyptians have done this to preserve that meal ticket).

I am not making any claims of mishandling by the President at this time . But I am glad to remind him that a hostage crisis was probably the key factor in Jimmy Carter's 1980 defeat. I think that this is important enough for him to be the President ,and not "lead from behind" . Their trial in Egyptian court will start on February 26 .

So what we have is americans interferring in the affairs of a soveriegn nation again and getting caught in the process, it matters not who they work for.

As these are persons who will face a court they are not "hostages". What I think the US should do is take its bat and ball and go home

And if your AusAid NGOs were in the same position your government wouldn't help them ?

and if your AusAid NGOs were in the same position your government wouldn't help them ?

I'm sure our embassy would make representation, do the usual visit in prision thing and perhaps find some legal aid, but if you transgress the law then you face the process and maybe you will be part of some prisoner exchange program.

However it is unlikely our AustAID workers are stupid enough to place themselves in this position, and if they are well they are fair game. I know no one who enjoys freedom from prosecution or where the government will grease the palms to get them off

That why your Rio Tinto workers can't count on their country ?

Once again do the wrong thing, land yourself in trouble and you will face local prosecution, but we will try to extract you without an international incident, a talent which seems to escape americans

The wrong thing being not cooperating with their industrial espionage and submitting their extortions.

When in Rome Tom you know that. In an Islamic nation you have to grease the wheels of industry to get anything done, americans know this better than anyone

So Tom have you looked at the background to this. The son of an administration official is involved so he is moving heaven and earth because he has influence, at least in the US. If this wasn't so we probably wouldn't have heard of it

The wrong thing being not cooperating with their industrial espionage and submitting their extortions.

Hi Tom,

As Clete says. "When in Rome" Not sure about the former, but when it comes to industrial relations corporations need to know that in Australia you are dealing with a long standing tradition. Historically,most working class Australians are, 'card carrying members' and proud of it.

No, we don't have the historical stigma attributed to Australian unions as per America.

Tut

And is that true with NGOs doing their work ? I can't believe your government would do nothing about this.. I would recall all NGO workers from Egypt as a start. Then I would demand their release to the US embasssy . Yes I would immediately suspend that massive amt of direct $$ aid ,and would move on seizing Egyptian assets wherever I could in the US and around the world.

And that's just a start . Do they want Cairo in the dark ? Can you say Aswan Dam ?
Well OK ;that's a last case scenario. I don't believe the Brotherhood want to begin their reign in financial collapse ;so I think the threat of immediate financial consequences should do the trick.

Tom as always you would use a baseball bat to swat a gnat, Surely americans have learned that such policies only bring resentment and the sort of backlash that was 9/11.

These NGO were undoubtedly an extension of US government policy and they got caught. Perhaps one shot his mouth off as to how close he was to the administration. Americans are slow to learn that it doesn't pay to interfere in the affairs of another country particularly when you are on the ground

Or we could just bomb them into a democratic government of our liking. Makes no difference.

Or we could just bomb them into a democratic government of our liking. Makes no difference.

How did that work for you in Libya? In Iraq? In Afghanistan? If you have any sense, which I doubt, you will accept that your role in the world is changing

The trials start this weekend. That would be my deadline Evita is talking nonsense about Syria when good American kids are about to be accused in a Kangaroo court in Egypt that they were advancing Zionist interests.

What are Zionist interests Tom? Is not disorder in Egypt a Zionist interest, certainly the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood is not in the zionist interest

is not disorder in Egypt a Zionist interest
Absolutely not . Mubarak kept the Camp David Accords honored for over 30 years If they were working in Zionists interests they would not be aiding in the rise of the Brotherhood.

Times change and bed fellows change

Update... the Trial was delayed until April 26.The Egyptians know that any hope of continuance of the American direct payments of foreign aid to Egypt is at stake.

You can't drawn any conclusions from a preliminary hearing the americans didn't even show up at the court

Nor should they . I want the US to get a stealth copter in there and get those kids out.

Gunsh.. t diplomacy, the only solution you have when things go against you.

When will americans learn that when you are in a foreign country you are subject to their laws? And being in contempt of the process will get you nowhere

The Egyptians don't even know which law they are charging them for violating .

It's probably illegal not to be a muslim

I figured this all out . It took some time ;but the recent wikileaks releasing of Stratfor emails made me recall their mischief in this whole 'Arab Spring' thingy. So I went back to January of last year and found what I was looking for.

Back then ,Wikileaks spilled the beans that the US was funding anti-regime pro-democracy NGOs going back to at least 2007 . Mubarak was quite upset over this revelation.
He warned then that it would likely lead to a Muslim Brotherhood control of Egypt.

Fast forward to now. Mubarak is out ,the sacrificial lamb to the revolution. He will likely be executed . However ;the judge involved in the NGO case is a Mubarak loyalist who has not forgotten the role the NGO's played in the revolution.

That is the origin of this crisis. This again proves false the notion that these Wikileak releases have done no harm.

No Tom it is the false notion that the US does no harm. Despite all that has happen you still think there is justification for interfering in the affairs of another nation. So wikileaks called you out and immediately they are the villain, instead of realising that giving ammunition to the enemy by interferring is the enemy. Mubarak knew his own nation, he knew how offensive your interference was to Muslims. The people from the NGO will get what the laws of Egypt demand

They will leave the country as free Americans or Egypt will lose it's payday.

Yes, well, Tom, the yankee dollar doesn't buy as much as it used to. You may find the Muslim Brotherhood isn't as interested in the yankee dollar as Mubarak was, not having offshore bank accounts. All you aid didn't help Egypt it was a way of keeping Mubarak on side. I find it strange you still think you can buy your way out of trouble. These places are corrupt at an individual level but highly sensitive at a national level

Not trying to buy our way out.. It's just a fact that they get a substantial amt of aid from us that they will not get if they continue down this path and/or break the Camp David accords in any way .
You think they don't need the money... lol... their tourist industry is in the cr@pper since the revolution . They depended on the aid before and more so now.

There is no crime here . If I'm the President I refuse to allow another hostage situation and would demand their safe passage out of the nation. If Obama likes he can give them one of those annoying patented apologies he loves giving to the world .

How do you know there is no crime Tom that is for a court to decide not american popular opinion. This is a beatup and a non event, you are the only person I know who is interested in it. Pity your administration officials don't have something better to do than flog a dead horse, they could get involved in a real problem where people are getting killed, like Syria

Personally I have only a passing interest in the fate of some americans who got themselves into trouble in Egypt. When their trial comes up again in April I will revisit it

And I will keep on this story. I have unconfirmed reports that there are negotiations with the Obama Adm to swap these American hostages for Blind Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman and 49 other jihadists
The Sheik was convicted of the WTC bombing in 1993 . I have no confirmation of this but apparently it is being reported in the Arabic language publication 'Al-Arabiya '.

Appears there is a development the egyptian courts have allowed the americans to travel but not yet the egyptian government

This is in Foreign Policy Magazine today :


Egyptian officials said [1] that they would lift a travel ban on
Seven Americans who had been caught up in the prosecution of U.S.-financed
Nonprofit groups in the country. The agreement to let them leave the country
Is meant to calm a crisis that had threatened to sever the three decade-long
U.S.-Egyptian alliance.

However, the deal does not resolve the charges brought against the nonprofit
Groups or end the prosecution of the approximately one dozen Egyptian
Employees who have also been brought to trial. The American defendants will
Also have to post up to $300,000 each in bail, defense lawyers said.

The decision to lift the travel ban follows weeks of intense diplomacy, as
U.S. officials attempted to avert a crisis that threatened to cut off the
$1.3 billion in annual aid to the Egyptian military. On Feb. 28, the judges
In the case abruptly recused themselves, saying that a more senior judge had
Asked them to reconsider the travel ban and, in doing so, had compromised
Their political independence. Their recusal, however, put the decision back
Into the hands of top judiciary officials, who lifted the ban.

It's a positive development ,but hardly an end to the crisis .

It appears the foriegners have been allowed to leave the country after posting bail. So they were not being held hostage after all, but let's hope they learned not to meddle

EVERY NGO interferes in the internal affairs of their host company.

EVERY NGO interferes in the internal affairs of their host company.


Are you clear on what you said there Tom? Do you want to make this an internal affairs complaint?

I hope the idea behind an NGO isn't to meddle in the affairs of other countries but then if it's an american NGO it's HQ is Langley VA, just a great big front for influence peddling