Sen. Graham wants new `Marshall Plan' for Middle East

For U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, the time for the United States to help out Israel, Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries is now.

“Israel needed help yesterday,” the South Carolina Republican said Thursday.

After traveling to the region on a recent congressional trip, Graham is proposing emergency appropriations to create what he called a new “Marshall Plan,” providing billions of dollars in economic aid and military support to Israel, Egypt and Jordan.

The U.S. alliance with Egypt, for example, is important and benefits the country, Graham said.

“When I look at what Egypt is willing to do (for the United States), I think that’s a partner worth investing in,” the Republican senator told a gathering of reporters on Capitol Hill.

Graham said the inspiration for his plan came from his recent trip to Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel. He was joined on the trip by U.S. Sens. David Perdue of Georgia and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Reps. David Jolly of Florida, Tom Rice of South Carolina and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, all Republicans

It was most important to provide more aid to Egypt, improving its economy, Tillis said.

“It’s in our interest for the government to succeed,” Graham said, adding he thinks Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is “the right guy” to run the country. Egypt and its military, with the U.S. government’s help, could put a stop to the Islamic State, he added.

President Barack Obama announced last year that he was restoring some military aid to Egypt that had been cut off in 2013, adding his administration will continue to request $1.3 billion a year for the country.

Graham’s idea, similar to the Marshall Plan that the United States used to rebuild Europe after World War II, would include providing monetary support and helping Egypt establish its economy with short-term loans and trade agreements, the senator said. He also said he hoped to attract companies and investors to Egypt.

“We need a proposal that’s not just the U.S. leading,” he said.

Graham said Turkey needs aid now as well, citing the refugee crisis and anxiety over Syria’s civil war. He proposed havens within Syria where the refugees can stay, instead of their fleeing the country.

“My goal is to create an environment where they don’t have to leave,” he said. “Creating stability in Syria is a necessity.”

Although Graham said he was confident in the support of the congressmen who’d traveled with him, he

Graham acknowledged many Democrats and Republicans might not favor of his plan or the emergency appropriations.

Emergency appropriations, which happen outside the budget, are common for natural disasters and military spending but are becoming less common as more and more members of Congress members want to adhere to the budget.

While Graham said he didn’t have a specific figure in mind yet for how much he wanted for his plan, he said he would “love to debate” the necessity of the spending.

“We need to adjust,” Graham said, “or we’re going to see more (of) Paris and Brussels.”

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 6:27 PM with the headline "Sen. Graham wants new `Marshall Plan' for Middle East."