WASHINGTON
White House Spokesman Josh Earnest denied reports that the United States (US) has cut off military aid to Egypt and said, "The aid and assistance relationship with Egypt is under a review, but it has not been cut off. A decision to cut off aid would be announced, if it were to be announced, after that review has been completed."
Speaking at a daily briefing, Earnest referring to aids to Egypt by saying, "There have been some steps that this administration has taken, but it's important for you and your readers to understand that providing foreign assistance is not like a spigot. You don't turn it off and on, or turn it up and down like a faucet. Assistance is provided episodically, that it's provided in specific tranches."
Serious criticism over Egyptian interim government
Upon a question about the Egyptian military's detention of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, Earnest said, "That is not in line with the standard that we expect other governments to uphold in terms of respecting human rights. It's certainly not the standard that the Egyptian people expect of their government in terms of upholding basic human rights."
Earnest also stated "So this is just the latest in a series of actions the Egyptian government has taken that doesn't reflect their commitment to an inclusive political process, to a respect for basic human rights like the right to protest peacefully, and it certainly is an act that's contrary to a legal system that's insulated from politics."
