Trump can send a human rights message to Egypt’s leader – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Last month, the Post-Gazette website carried a New York Times story acknowledging the Egyptian regimes abysmal human rights record, while also predicting increased U.S. military cooperation with that country. In light of that article, President Donald Trumps upcoming meeting with Egypts coup-installed president, Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, poses an important question: Will the U.S. attempt to combat terrorism using blind, brute force or through a principled embrace of core American values?

When the two leaders meet April 3, Mr. Trump can do as expected: Double down on military support for a widely discredited authoritarian regime. But theres another opportunity: Take a clear, strong stand against the el-Sissi administrations well-documented human and civil rights abuses by withholding funding for its military.

By taking that unexpectedly principled step, the U.S. will be combating terror in two ways. First, well achieve a major win in the war of ideas, by showing moderate Muslims across the world that yes, well support core American values free press, freedom of assembly and the right to fair trial on behalf of ordinary Egyptian Muslims.

At the same time, well be saying no to the Egyptian governments own version of state-supported terror being applied to its own citizens.

Will Mr. Trump stand up for core American values enshrined in our Bill of Rights on the world stage? Will he say no to Egypts internal version of state-supported terror?

The world will be watching.

RICHARD ST. JOHN Greenfield

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Trump can send a human rights message to Egypt's leader - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette