President Barack Obama has dramatically cut funds to promote democracy in Egypt, a shift that could affect everything from anti-corruption programs to the monitoring of elections. Washington's cuts over the past year - amounting to around 50 percent - have drawn accusations that the Obama administration is easing off reform pressure on the autocratic government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to ensure its support on Mideast policy, including the peace process with Israel.
"Obama wants change that won't make the Egyptian government angry," said Ahmed Samih, head of a Cairo-based organisation that in 2005 used US funds to monitor parliament elections. "And in the Egyptian context, that means there will be no change." In a statement to The Associated Press, USAID - Washington's main international aid agency - said, "the United States is committed to the promotion of democracy and human rights and the development of civil society in Egypt."
It said the cuts came as Washington was drawing down non-military aid to Egypt in general over recent years. The administration has made similar cuts in democracy aid to Jordan, another US ally. The policy in part reflects a change in focus, with more development and economic aid to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
It also reflects how Obama has moved away from his predecessor George W. Bush's aggressive push to democratise the regimes of the Middle East. Egypt was the centrepiece of the Bush policy, straining US ties with Mubarak - though by the end of the Bush administration, the American reform push had already seemed to fall by the wayside.