Obama cancels U.S. military exercise with Egypt in wake of violence
Source: Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-obama-egypt-violence-20130815,0,7095246.story
Obama cancels U.S. military exercise with Egypt in wake of violence
By Christi Parsons and Kathleen Hennessey
August 15, 2013, 8:17 a.m.
CHILMARK, Mass. -- President Obama on Thursday canceled a joint military exercise with Egypt in the wake of a violent crackdown on civilians by Egyptian security forces.
Obama, who met Thursday morning with his national security team, said he is also ordering a review of other steps the United States might take amid concerns about the continuing violence.
We want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, Obama said, but our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual when civilians are being killed in the streets.
The biannual Bright Star military exercise with the Egyptian military was scheduled to take place next month. Pentagon officials say it is an important part of the U.S. strategy in the region, designed to improve readiness and strengthen relations between American and Egyptian forces.
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