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From VOA Learning English, |
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this is In The News. |
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An Egyptian judge this week |
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ordered the continued detention of |
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ousted President Mohamed Morsi. |
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The official MENA news agency says |
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Mr. Morsi has been detained for 15 days |
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for investigation of suspected links |
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to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. |
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He is accused of working with Hamas |
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to attack police stations two years ago |
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during the rebellion that ousted |
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then-president Hosni Mubarak. |
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Mr. Morsi has been held without charge |
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since July 3rd, |
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when he was removed by Egypt's military. |
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The court order came as his supporters |
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and opponents held competing protests on Friday. |
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Many Egyptians have been killed in political violence |
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in recent weeks. |
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On Wednesday, the United States announced it was delaying |
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a planned shipment of four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt. |
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Defense Department spokesman George Little noted |
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what he called the "fluid situation" in the country. |
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"Given the current situation in Egypt, |
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we do not believe it is appropriate to move forward |
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at this time with the delivery of F-16s." |
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Some American lawmakers have been calling |
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for a suspension of American aid to Egypt. |
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The calls began after the removal of Mr. Morsi, |
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who was the country's first democratically elected president. |
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The United States provides $1.3 billion |
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in military aid to Egypt each year. |
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Obama administration officials have repeatedly said |
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it is not in America's best interests to cut off aid to Egypt. |
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Experts note the country has severe economic problems, |
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including high unemployment and inflation. |
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Many American observers say the United States |
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has little influence over what is happening or will happen in Egypt. |
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Jeffrey Martini is with the RAND Corporation. |
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He says one reason for the lack of influence is a reduction |
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in American economic aid to Egypt over the years. |
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"In the mid-1980s, the total aid flow to Egypt from the United States |
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was equivalent to about seven percent of Egypt's economy. |
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That would give you a lot of leverage. |
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Today, it's about point-seven percent. |
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So a 10-fold drop as compared to the size of the Egyptian economy. |
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So you don't get much leverage when you're looking |
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at aid flows of point-seven percent the size of the Egyptian economy." |
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Brent Scowcroft served as national security advisor |
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to two American presidents. |
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He says the United States must help in developing a plan |
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to re-establish Egypt's economic and political security. |
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"What's needed now is to put together a structure |
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which can complete the building of an Egyptian political system. |
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That is, with a constitution, with elections, |
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with governments that broadly reflect the interests of the electorate." |
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Mr. Scowcroft says a secure Egypt is important for the Middle East. |
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Without a successful Egypt, he says, the area has a serious problem. |
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Other observers agree. |
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Mirette Mabrouk is with the Atlantic Council's |
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Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. |
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"A stable, prosperous, if you like, |
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but certainly stable and healthy Egypt |
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is absolutely vital to the Middle East. |
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Otherwise, frankly, no one would care. |
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If Egypt were irrelevant, then people would not be paying attention. |
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People pay attention because Egypt is vital." |
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She and others say the United States and other countries |
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should not get directly involved in Egypt |
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and instead let the Egyptian political process take its course. |
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And that's In The News from VOA Learning English. |
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I'm Steve Ember. |