Thread: Egypt barring US Citizens, acting as NGOs, from leaving the country

This doesn't look good. But also hints at a souring of relations between the US and Egypt; something that I was afraid might happen after Mubarak was deposed/stepped down.

U.S. outrage as Egypt bars Americans from leaving | Reuters

Among those hit by travel bans - one of those targeted called it "de facto detention" - is a son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, as well as other foreign staffers of the International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute, officials at the two organizations said on Thursday.

A month after police raided the Cairo offices of the IRI, NDI and eight other non-governmental organizations, it raises the stakes for Washington, which had already indicated it may review the $1.3 billion it gives the Egyptian military each year if the probe into alleged breaches of local regulations went on.

Sam LaHood told Reuters that a judge had charged him and three other IRI employees with managing an unregistered NGO and being paid employees of an unregistered organization, charges that carry a penalty of up to five years in jail.

Not the brightest move to make.

Originally Posted by CivilWars

I think the phone just rang to Seal Team 6 again. Didn't these fools see what they did in Pakistan and Somalia?

Send them in, bring them back, cut Egypt off, save $1.3 billion. Sounds like a plan.