Buddy Roemer Wades Into Foreign Policy

Republican presidential hopeful Buddy Roemer, the former congressman and governor of Louisiana, has not exactly been focused on foreign policy during his dark-horse bid for the GOP nomination -- but he ripped into Egypts leadership late on Monday. Roemer, who is also running for the Americans Elect nomination, weighed in on 19 Americans who might be facing trial in Egypt.

My thoughts today are with the families of the 19 Americans and numerous Egyptians who are facing prosecution for the work they are doing in Egypt to build democratic practices and institutions that give people a say in how they are governed, Roemer said. The proposed trial of American citizens for the crime of promoting democracy, liberty and freedom makes a mockery of the relationship we have enjoyed with the Egyptian people for over 35 years, and of the hope in political change that began in Tahrir Square a short year ago. Although the value of democracy is one that we hold very dear, it is neither exclusively American nor exclusively Western it is universal.

I commend the immediate, firm response of our countrys leadership on this issue, calling for a stop to the investigations of these individuals who are doing nothing more than trying to help Egyptians create a better life for themselves, Roemer added. They should not be treated like criminals. They deserve better, and so do the Egyptian people. Allowing the regime to continue to bully organizations like IRI and NDI in a political poker match cannot be tolerated all aid must stop until the charges are dropped and we have assurances that their work can continue unimpeded.