Egypt, Federal Deficit Brings Calls to Eliminate Foreign Aid

Egypt, Federal Deficit Brings Calls to Eliminate Foreign Aid

Egypt, Deficit Bring Calls to End Foreign Aid -- But Should We?

Feb 5, 2011 – 8:25 AM
Andrea Stone

Win McNamee, Getty Images

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is calling for ending all foreign aid as way to help shrink the federal deficit.

WASHINGTON -- The unrelated crises roiling Egypt and the federal budget have at least one thing in common: They both have brought calls to eliminate foreign aid.

Just as Punxsutawney Phil crawled from his hole this week, the perennial debate over sending taxpayer money to foreign lands emerged once more on Capitol Hill.

In its effort to get a handle on the turmoil, the Obama administration raised the specter of ending military aid to Egypt. The second-largest recipient of U.S. largesse after Israel, Egypt has gotten more than $250 billion in weaponry since 1950, and that doesn't count thebillions sent there for economic development and the promotion of democracy.