February 1 2013

MARYVILLE – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) announced his cosponsorship of legislation offered by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, that would suspend certain military sales to Egypt, including the F-16, until the administration certifies that Egypt has met specific commitments.

“I am cosponsoring Sen. Inhofe’s proposal to delay the sale or transfer of these F-16s and tanks to Egypt while we secure key commitments from Egypt because it is absolutely necessary during this dangerous time of transition,” Alexander said. “If we don’t handle the crisis in Egypt correctly, we risk both our own security interests and the security of our allies, especially Israel.”

The bill would restrict the transfer of F- 16s to Egypt until President Obama certifies that the Egyptian government continues to uphold its commitments under the Camp David Peace Accords; provides proper security, consistent with the Vienna Convention, at United States embassies and consulates; brings stability to Egypt by ending its systemic exclusion and silencing of political opposition; and takes concrete steps to engage in dialogue with those opposition parties in an effort to form a coalition government.

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