Is US Aid to Egypt a Sharia Tribute?

The U.S. government’s aid to Egypt’s government has been a matter of some controversy of late, and this probably won’t help help: According to Egyptian cleric Dr. Khaled, our payments to Egypt constitute a payment of jizya, the tax laid upon non-Muslims living under sharia in return for dhimmi status (whereby they can be left alone, albeit as second-class citizens). He explained: “If the revolution declares a framework for dealing with the West and America — they will accept it, kiss our hands, and double the aid they give us. We consider this aid to be jizya, not regular aid. . . . They pay it for the right of passage through our airspace and territorial waters. . . . They pay so that we will let them be.”