Republican Senator Rand Paul brands himself as a standalone politician--disagreeing with fellow Republicans at times--while agreeing with Democrats on certain issues. But the power shift in Egypt is pushing Paul to lock horns with the Obama administration.
Recently, the US Congress refused to take up a proposal ending US aid to Egypt and redirecting that money to spend on domestic infrastructure projects sorely needed in the US.
Paul argued that U.S. aid to Egypt should end, citing the law that prohibits the United States from giving aid to countries after military coups.
Early June, the Egyptian military suspended the country's constitution pushing out former President Mohammed Morsi. The United States' gives about $1.3 billion in aid to Egypt's military and the Obama administration has not called the military intervention a coup. Doing so would put a stop to the aid and compromise leverage with Egypt's military. But experts say Cairo is already giving Washington the cold shoulder while embroiled in a governance meltdown.
Rand Paul isn't the only voice calling for the Obama administration to stop the financial assistance, but it has been the loudest one in Congress.
This week, the Obama administration cancelled a joint U.S. military exercise with Egypt, but still has not announced any plans to cut off the $1.3 billion in military aid the U.S. provides to the country.
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