Today I was on Facebook and saw this infographic (nice job ABC) on Egypt. It basically lays out the benefits of our giving 1.3 Billion US Dollars to Egypt. But my question immediately was, 'Yeah, but what's the cost.'
Thomas Friedman said something that interested me. Basically, he says we live in a flatter world, meaning because of technology everyone can pretty much see everyone else. That means that the United States (or any country for that matter) can not afford to say one thing and do another. That if we act one way in Turkey and another way in Indonesia everyone around the world can see it. Google is only one click away. The Internet has made everyone everywhere visible.
What does this have to do with Egypt? It's simple. If we pay off Egypt we get military access for ships, planes, and jobs for military contractors. We also get peace with Israel.
But the price for all of these goods isn't 1.3 billion dollars. The price is our principles as a nation. Our price is our global moral authority. Our price is our position as a shining city on a hill.
If we pay Egypt as they slaughter their people how can we possibly lecture Bashar Al-Asad about slaughtering his own people in Syria?
If we pay Egypt as they incarcerate their political opposition how can we with a straight face correct China when they lock up political prisoners for asking about freedom?
If we pay Egypt as they silence the opposition and enforce military law and silence freedom of speech how can we tell Vladimir Putin about human rights? He'll call us hypocrites. And you know what? He'll be right.
President Obama and ABC News has failed to present a complete picture to the American people when it comes to our trade with Egypt. The cost of all of these benefits is 1.3 Billion dollars plus our moral authority. But unlike money, once you sell your moral authority, you can't get it back.
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