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Both the Republicans and Democrats have questioned giving US taxpayers’ money to the Middle East amid anti-American riots in the region and the fatal attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Several Capitol Hill Republicans have since the recent anti-American attacks started calling for either a stop to such aid or at least tighter restrictions, despite the Obama administration saying that cutting off support would not resolve the ‘complicated’ Middle East situation. “The American people are tired of this,” Senator Rand Paul said, adding: “Our Treasury is bare. There is a multitude of reasons why we should not continue to send good money after bad”. According to Fox News, Paul said such action should be taken in Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Pakistan. He has also proposed an amendment that would require those countries to help in the investigations of the attacks on U.S. embassies in Yemen and Egypt and the consulate in Benghazi. "Not one penny more for Libya or Egypt or Pakistan until they act as our allies," Paul continued, adding” "Some say we have to keep sending it. Fine, let's send it when they act as our allies. Let's send it when they start behaving as civilized nations and come to their senses.” Yemen received 64 million dollars this year, compared to 134 million dollars last year, according to Congressional Research Service. In Tunisia, the State Department has allocated more than 300 million dollars since early 2011. In Sudan, the U.S. spent more than a half million dollars in 2012. And the tab for Egypt and Libya alone since last year exceeds 3 billion dollars. According to the report, one of the first attacks occurred on Tuesday at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, a country that has received 1.6 billion dollars in each of the past four years. Egypt since 1979 has been the second-largest recipient of U.S. aid, following Israel. According to Congressional Research Service, roughly 1.3 billion dollars of that annual aid goes to Egypt’s military. Four Americans were killed on Tuesday in the Benghazi attack, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

US lawmakers question aid to Middle East amid anti-American protests