Sen. Lindsey Graham wants new ‘Marshall Plan’ for Middle East

For 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 senator said.

After traveling to the region on a recent congressional trip, Graham proposed giving emergency appropriations and creating what he called a new “Marshall Plan” to provide billions of dollars in economic aid and military support to Israel, Egypt and Jordan. The United States’ alliance with Egypt is important, Graham said, to him and to Congress.

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

The inspiration for this plan and the need for emergency funds were inspired by Graham’s recent travels to Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel. He was joined by 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

To help Egypt, Tillis told reporters at the same gathering, it was most important to provide more aid and improve the country’s economy.

“It’s in our interest for the government to succeed,” Graham said, adding that 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 said.

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

Graham’s idea, similar to the Marshall Plan, which 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 needed aid right away as well, citing the refugee crisis and anxiety over Syria. He proposed havens within Syria where the refugees can stay, instead of allowing them to migrate to various countries.

“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 acknowledged that many Democrats and Republicans who like to stick to the budget might not be in favor of his plan or the emergency appropriations.

Emergency appropriations, which happen outside the budget, are common for natural disasters and military spending but have been 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 money 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 Paris and Brussels.”

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 5:44 PM with the headline "Sen. Lindsey Graham wants new ‘Marshall Plan’ for Middle East."