Rand Paul asks Senate to cut foreign aid to Egypt, Libya and Pakistan using the funds for Vets and deficit
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, announced Thursday a new version of his amendment to strip foreign aid from Pakistan, Egypt and Libya in the wake of the killings of the American ambassador to Libya and three other diplomats and the torturing in Pakistan of the doctor who helped America find and kill Osama bin Laden.
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Paul’s new amendment would strike the $4 billion-a-year American aid to Pakistan, Libya and Egypt and send an additional $2 billion to the $1 billion jobs bill for veterans and apply the remaining $2 billion to reduce the federal deficit.
Paul said he urges Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, “to do the right thing for taxpayers and veterans: to send a message to countries that our aid can’t be taken for granted, and to stand up for our troops abroad now, and those who have returned home after serving.”
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, asked Senator Paul if he had ever been to either Egypt or Pakistan.
Senator Kerry said that Libya and Egypt were going through a period of transition after revolutions, and added that the first few years were not easy, and highlighted the US’ history as an example. Egypt was a US ally even under former president Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
Recounting that troops in the northwestern part of Pakistan were losing their lives to militants, “and you want to cut off aid?” asked Senator Kerry.
“Civilians are being killed in Pakistan,” he said.
