ACLJ Petition Asks Obama to Stop Funding Libya, Egypt
In response to the recent attacks on U.S. embassies in the Middle East, the American Center for Law and Justice has started a petition asking the U.S. government to stop sending money to countries that permit and support radical Islamic extremists.
"The anti-American violence at the direction of Islamic extremists in not only very troubling, but amplifies what can only be described as a failed foreign policy by the Obama Administration," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ. "At a time when President Obama refuses to meet face-to-face with the Prime Minister of Israel, our most important ally in the region, the Obama Administration continues to send billions of taxpayer dollars to countries that permit and support the terrorism of radical Islamists bent on destroying America.
"It's time to bring an end to a foreign policy of appeasement and apologies. We're calling on the Obama Administration to cut-off funding to Libya and Egypt until stable governments – which support America – are put in place."
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More than 10,690 people have signed the online petition in a little more than 24 hours.
The petition addressed to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton is short and simply states:
"Your Administration must stand up for America – stop apologizing and condemn these abhorrent attacks. All U.S. funding to these countries must end until stable governments – who support America – are put in place."
The ACLJ believes the Middle East situation is explosive and references this week's killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three members of his staff.
"Radical extremists scaled the U.S. Embassy walls and attacked our compound. This senseless anti-American violence continues in Egypt where the radical Muslim Brotherhood is in control. Protestors stormed the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, scaling the wall to tear down and burn the American flag," ACLJ officials said.
"The United States sends billions of dollars in aid to these countries. Our foreign aid to Egypt and Libya must stop. Tell the Obama Administration to stand up for America."
The violence has increased since the attacks in Egypt and Libya and spread to other countries in the Middle East. There is debate as to whether or not all of the attacks were motivated by outrage over the movie called "Innocence of Muslims," produced by anti-Islam campaigners in the U.S. that mocked Islam's Prophet Muhammad.
There is also speculation that the embassies were targeted in coordination with this week's commemoration in the U.S. of the 9/11 tragedies.
On Thursday, President Obama ordered increased security at American embassies and consulates around the world and asked U.S. citizens abroad to be vigilant. Two U.S. warships were sent to the Libyan coast and 50 Marines were deployed to the Libyan capital of Tripoli to help with security. During his campaign trip to Colorado, Obama told voters that the Benghazi Consulate killers will be brought to justice and that protecting Americans serving abroad is one of his highest priorities.
