U.S. seeks answers over arrest of embassy employee in Egypt
By Elise Labott
Authorities have detained an Egyptian employee of the U.S. embassy in Cairo, State Department officials and Egyptian media reports said, a move likely to further strain already tense relations.
Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman, confirmed reports the employee in the embassy's political section was detained on January 25 and has been held without charges since.
Proposal taking shape in Senate to restore Egypt aid
By Elise Labott
The Senate is readying a proposal that aims to restore U.S. aid to Egypt, some of which was frozen after last year's ouster of President Mohamed Morsy, two Obama administration officials told CNN.
A provision that gives the White House flexibility to effectively eliminate restrictions on military and other assistance to countries facing a coup could be introduced as part of a spending bill as early as Monday.
Kerry: U.S. ties with Egypt 'vital'
By CNN Staff
U.S. ties with Egypt go deeper than aid, America's top diplomat said Sunday.
"Let me make it clear here today: President Obama and the American people support the people of Egypt," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said.
"We believe this is a vital relationship."
Kerry's visit marked the highest-level U.S. official trip to Egypt since former President Mohamed Morsy's ouster in July. It was also his first trip to the country since the U.S. suspended significant military aid to Egypt over the bloody crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.
U.S. suspends significant military aid to Egypt
By CNN Foreign Affairs Reporter Elise Labott
Washington (CNN) - In a dramatic shift toward a major Arab ally, the Obama administration announced a suspension of significant military aid to Egypt on Wednesday over the bloody crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.
The move, involving hundreds of millions in U.S. assistance to the Egyptian military, is the culmination of months of debate within the administration about how to respond to the July 3 ouster of former President Mohamed Morsy, Egypt's first democratically elected leader.
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Iran drama obscures concerns over Obama approach to Mideast
By Elise Labott, reporting from the United Nations
The drama over whether President Barack Obama would shake hands with his Iranian counterpart detracted from what diplomats at the U.N. General Assembly described as an acute disappointment with his handling of Mideast turmoil.
A perceived lack of leadership in Syria during its civil war coupled with U.S. handling of the political crisis in Egypt has forced the Obama administration to confront a growing lack of confidence among Middle East allies.
But what's most bewildered American allies in the region was Obama's abrupt decision to back away from threats to use military force over alleged Syrian chemical weapons use in favor of a diplomatic approach to divest it of those stockpiles.
They fear Obama's ambivalence foreshadows a lack of mettle in dealing with Iran.
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Opinion: U.S. can't force democracy on Egypt
By Anthony H. Cordesman, Special to CNN
Editor's note: Anthony H. Cordesman holds the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Follow CSIS on Twitter.
(CNN) - There are no good or easy solutions for U.S. policy toward Egypt, and short-sighted arguments about military aid miss the broader issues entirely. America is relearning the lesson of the 1950s post-colonial period: Democracy depends on stable and experienced political parties and leaders, a willingness to compromise rather than conspire and to share or give up power until the next election.
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Official: U.S. temporarily holds up some military aid to Egypt
By Jessica Yellin
The Obama administration is withholding some military aid to Egypt as it reviews how it wants to proceed, a U.S. official told CNN.
The move is being described as a "reprogramming" of some funds to Egypt, but in effect, Washington is temporarily holding up some military aid to that country as it prepares for the possibility that future aid could be cut, the official said.
A spokesman for Sen. Patrick Leahy, David Carle, confirmed to CNN Monday that his office has been told the aid has been halted. Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, is chairman of the Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee.
The United States gives about $1.23 billion in military aid to Egypt.
FULL STORYWhy Obama is not cutting aid to Egypt
More than 900 people have died in the violence across Egypt over the past week. And now, 51% of Americans say the United States should cut off the $1.3 billion in military aid we give that country each year.
But the Obama administration said Monday it hasn't yet decided – its review of the situation is still "ongoing."
Egypt on edge amid questions about U.S. aid
One, incredibly powerful group wants to keep the money flowing to egypt.
CNN's Chris Lawrence reports for Erin Burnett OutFront.
Billions in aid on the line: What will the U.S. do about Egypt?
When Egypt's first democratically elected president was tossed out earlier this year, the White House stopped short of calling it a coup.
Doing so would force an end to the $1.3 billion that the U.S. sends in military aid every year - and change the course of its relationship with one of its strongest Arab allies in the region.
But that was before Wednesday when the military-led interim government stormed two camps full of former President Mohamed Morsy's supporters. More than 300 people were killed and close to 3,000 wounded in the bloodiest day in Egypt's recent history.
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First on CNN: US may call off military exercise with Egypt
By Barbara Starr
The United States may cancel a major military training exercise with Egypt due in part to worsening violence there, an Obama administration official told CNN.
Bright Star, planned for next month, would involve thousands of American air and ground forces.
Held every two years, it has long been considered vital for demonstrating U.S. military ability to deploy to the Middle East in the event of war.
Recent violence, especially the killing of protestors in Cairo on Wednesday, is factoring into new thinking on whether to participate, the official said.
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