U.S. pro-democracy effort rubs many in Egypt the wrong way - latimes.com
The Obama administration's plan to pour $65 million into Egypt this year to help organize new political parties has sparked a powerful backlash from Cairo's interim military government, its Islamist parties and even some reform-minded activists.
The military government has portrayed groups that take U.S. funding as agents of a foreign government and has battled behind the scenes for months to try to stop Washington from giving money to pro-democracy groups outside Cairo's direct supervision.
The dispute exploded into the open Wednesday when the State Department decried a "creeping" anti-Americanism in Egypt and complained that Cairo's criticism of U.S. aid and motives is inaccurate and unfair.
The Obama administration's plan to pour $65 million into Egypt this year to help organize new political parties has sparked a powerful backlash from Cairo's interim military government, its Islamist parties and even some reform-minded activists.
The military government has portrayed groups that take U.S. funding as agents of a foreign government and has battled behind the scenes for months to try to stop Washington from giving money to pro-democracy groups outside Cairo's direct supervision.
The dispute exploded into the open Wednesday when the State Department decried a "creeping" anti-Americanism in Egypt and complained that Cairo's criticism of U.S. aid and motives is inaccurate and unfair.
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