From VOA Learning English,this is In The News.An Egyptian judge this weekordered the continued detention ofousted President Mohamed Morsi.The official MENA news agency saysMr. Morsi has been detained for 15 daysfor investigation of suspected linksto the Palestinian militant group Hamas.He is accused of working with Hamasto attack police stations two years agoduring the rebellion that oustedthen-president Hosni Mubarak.Mr. Morsi has been held without chargesince July 3rd,when he was removed by Egypt's military.The court order came as his supportersand opponents held competing protests on Friday.Many Egyptians have been killed in political violencein recent weeks.On Wednesday, the United States announced it was delayinga planned shipment of four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt.Defense Department spokesman George Little notedwhat he called the "fluid situation" in the country."Given the current situation in Egypt,we do not believe it is appropriate to move forwardat this time with the delivery of F-16s."Some American lawmakers have been callingfor a suspension of American aid to Egypt.The calls began after the removal of Mr. Morsi,who was the country's first democratically elected president.The United States provides $1.3 billionin military aid to Egypt each year.Obama administration officials have repeatedly saidit is not in America's best interests to cut off aid to Egypt.Experts note the country has severe economic problems,including high unemployment and inflation.Many American observers say the United Stateshas little influence over what is happening or will happen in Egypt.Jeffrey Martini is with the RAND Corporation.He says one reason for the lack of influence is a reductionin American economic aid to Egypt over the years."In the mid-1980s, the total aid flow to Egypt from the United Stateswas equivalent to about seven percent of Egypt's economy.That would give you a lot of leverage.Today, it's about point-seven percent.So a 10-fold drop as compared to the size of the Egyptian economy.So you don't get much leverage when you're lookingat aid flows of point-seven percent the size of the Egyptian economy."Brent Scowcroft served as national security advisorto two American presidents.He says the United States must help in developing a planto re-establish Egypt's economic and political security."What's needed now is to put together a structurewhich can complete the building of an Egyptian political system.That is, with a constitution, with elections,with governments that broadly reflect the interests of the electorate."Mr. Scowcroft says a secure Egypt is important for the Middle East.Without a successful Egypt, he says, the area has a serious problem.Other observers agree.Mirette Mabrouk is with the Atlantic Council'sRafik Hariri Center for the Middle East."A stable, prosperous, if you like,but certainly stable and healthy Egyptis absolutely vital to the Middle East.Otherwise, frankly, no one would care.If Egypt were irrelevant, then people would not be paying attention.People pay attention because Egypt is vital."She and others say the United States and other countriesshould not get directly involved in Egyptand instead let the Egyptian political process take its course.And that's In The News from VOA Learning English.更多听力请访问51voa.com