On Thursday, Egyptian security forces stormed the offices of 17 human rights and pro-democracy NGOs across the country. One NGO worker was arrested. Taking computers, papers, cash, and telephones with them, the coordinated raids reflect the military’s discomfort with criticism and foreign intervention: several of these organizations are monitoring Egypt’s ongoing, multi-phase parliamentary elections. Egypt received $65 million in pro-democracy aid from the U.S. this year, and the Obama administration has demanded that the military return items confiscated from the raids. Julie Hughes, director of the National Democratic Institute in Egypt, was in her office on Thursday when a dozen armed men forced their way into the building.