Speaking today before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, top International Republican Institute (IRI) leader Lorne Craner warned that the 19 members of her organization and other government-funded NGOs charged in Egypt could face prison time.
The 19 Americans are charged with working with groups not licensed to operate or not licensed to receive foreign funding. They were largely members of the IRI, or its Democratic Party counterpart, the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Egypt’s military junta has defended the charges, saying they were required under the current laws. US officials, particularly IRI Chairman Sen. John McCain (R – AZ) have threatened to see all aid to Egypt revoked over the charges.
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has also said it is backing the junta on this matter, saying it opposes the US attempts to interfere in the judiciary’s case. Recent polls have shown a strong majority of Egyptians oppose receiving continued US aid.
Perhaps these Non(sure, sure)governmental organizations should pay attention to the laws of the countries they want to subvert. Maybe it's time they learned that the views and wishes of the US should be kept within our borders. They got caught trying to influence the Egyptian political dynamics. They were intervening where they had no business do so.
It's understood that spies who merely steal information are subject to execution, but our agent provocateurs who try to destabilize and overthrow other governments should be treated as legitimate aid orgs by the other countries? Pure hubris.
The NGO's leadership cadre has already been quoted as saying they didn't get the proper governmental permissions because 'it takes too long'. I hope it doesn't 'take too long' for those found guilty to serve their sentences. Would the US government think twice about prosecuting an Egyptian NGO caught trying to influence an American election? I think not.
Nail their asses to the wall! Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you.
While all the NGO’s that spoke out about the generals brutal crackdown on protesters were raided and lost their computers, office space and license to operate, the local offices of two NGO’s that were CIA run terrorist groups, they enjoyed a scheduled pleasant meeting with these Security forces. They were the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI). After which they all enjoyed a luncheon together at one of Egypt’s fine restaurants.