With friends like Egypt

Opinion: February 11, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Kansas City Star: President Barack Obama’s administration must react quickly and forcefully to the latest outrage from Cairo: the announcement that 19 American pro-democracy workers — part of a group of 43 in all — would be ordered to stand trial.

By including the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood among those to be brought up on charges that could result in five-year prison terms, Egypt’s military-controlled government appears to testing Obama, searching for the limits of his patience with a longtime ally.

The charges are a twisted way for Egypt’s leaders to show citizens they’re willing to stand up to the power of the United States while deflecting criticism away from themselves over a faltering economy and a deteriorating security situation.

The latter was tragically evident in the 79 deaths at a soccer game riot last week.

A bogus claim

Egyptian leaders claim that the pro-democracy groups are seeking to destabilize the nation by violating an old Mubarak law against institutions accepting foreign aid unless they are properly registered.

The catch is the government refuses to register pro-democracy organizations.

If Egypt insists on continuing down this road, American reaction must be decisive. Until the charges are dropped against all, Egypt’s $1.3 billion in annual aid should be shelved.

Egypt’s military leaders believe this aid is their right, payment for longstanding good relations with Israel. They think the United States will shy from jeopardizing regional stability.

But Egypt needs American support, and it offers the best lever for compelling the release of the foreign pro-democracy workers. That needs to happen, and soon.