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From VOA Learning English, |
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this is In the News. |
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Egypt is criticizing an American decision |
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to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars |
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in aid to the country. |
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An Egyptian Foreign Ministry official says |
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the decision is wrong. |
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He says his country is prepared to carry out |
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what he called a political road map, |
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which includes plans for elections next year. |
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The Obama administration said this week |
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it was suspending the delivery of major weapons to Egypt |
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because of delays in progress toward an inclusive government. |
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The decision followed an investigation of events |
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since the Egyptian military ousted |
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President Mohamed Morsi three months ago. |
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President Obama has also decided to suspend $260 million |
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in assistance to the government that followed the ouster. |
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Mr. Obama has said there can be no business |
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as usual following the overthrow of Mr. Morsi. |
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American officials say this suspension |
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is a way of expressing that point. |
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But it is far from a complete break in American assistance. |
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The United States will continue to support programs |
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that it says directly help the Egyptian people. |
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It will also continue financing programs |
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that support what it calls "vital security objectives." |
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These include help aimed at securing Egypt's borders. |
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Jonathan Broder is with Congressional Quarterly, |
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a publication that reports on American politics. |
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He says Mr. Obama has been under pressure |
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for not taking stronger steps |
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after the ouster of Egypt's democratically-elected leader. |
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"There is the image that President Obama |
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wants to present to the world as someone |
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who stands up for human rights and for democracy. |
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And the images of Egyptian soldiers |
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killing protesters on the streets of Cairo |
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is a very negative one in the United States. |
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And there's pressure on him from human rights organizations |
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and from some in Congress to suspend the aid." |
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American officials say Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel |
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discussed the move in a telephone call on Wednesday |
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with Egypt's Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. |
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During the call, the two men were said to have re-stated |
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the importance of their countries' relations |
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in guaranteeing Middle East security. |
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Since July, the Egyptian military has led a campaign |
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against suspected militants and supporters of Mr. Morsi |
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and the Muslim Brotherhood. |
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At least 1,000 people have been killed. |
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Most were Islamists. |
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In recent days, more violence was reported, |
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with attacks on security forces and clashes |
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between protesters and police. |
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Some Egyptians predict it only lead |
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to increased use of military force. |
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Emad Shahin is a public policy professor |
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with The American University in Cairo. |
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He thinks military leaders are preparing |
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for a final battle with their long-time enemies. |
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"They think that the plan by which they managed to charge, |
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to mobilize the anger of the people against Morsi's rule |
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and administration and so on, has gained a momentum |
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and it is really time to break down the Islamists." |
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For now, many Egyptians are still supporting |
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the military against its opponents. |
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But there are questions of how long that can last. |
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Mustafa Labbad is director of the Al Sharq Center |
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for Regional and Strategic Studies. |
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"After a while you have to solve your social and economic problems. |
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And it wouldn't matter if you are wearing a uniform or casual wear. |
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If you are in power, you have to solve these problems." |
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Observers say repression against one group may be possible. |
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But attempting to suppress a larger movement will prove difficult. |
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And that's In the News from VOA Learning English. |
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I'm George Grow. |