Facing mounting pressure to make a decision on whether the US government considers the Egyptian military uprising a coup, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that “we have determined that we do not have to make a determination.”
Associated Press reporter Matt Lee extensively questioned Psaki
about the State Department’s stance during a Tuesday
press conference. While he was unable to get an answer about the
government’s leaning on the issue, he was able to show how far
the Obama administration is willing to go to avoid using the word
“coup”.
Sen. John McCain was the first US official to describe the
ousting of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi as a coup.
After mass protests erupted at the end of June, calling for
Morsi’s resignation, the Egyptian military overthrew the
government. If the US were to characterize the events as a coup,
it would be required to suspend the $1.3 billion aid it provides
Egypt each year. Under the US Foreign Assistance Act, countries
whose duly elected heads of governments are deposed by military
coup or decree are ineligible for US assistance.
The White House delayed a shipment to F-16s to Egypt while it
considered its options, but then informed members of Congress
that it did not want to call the uprising a coup.
But looking at the way Morsi was ousted, McCain classified
the armed overthrow a coup, which by definition is a sudden
deposition of a government.
“We have said we share the democratic aspirations and
criticism of the Morsi government that led millions of
Egyptians into the streets,” McCain said at the end of
his recent visit to Cairo, where he and Sen. Lindsey Graham
met with senior officials. “We’ve also said that the
circumstances of [Morsi’s] removal was a coup. This was a
transition of power not by the ballot box.”
When questioned about McCain’s comments, Psaki said that
“Senators McCain and Graham are certainty entitled to
their opinions, just as any member of Congress is… the US
government has stated what our opinion is.”
But that opinion was not clear, and Psaki faced tough
questions about what exactly this stance is. Lee asked the
spokeswoman if the Obama administration’s position is
“that you do not have a position” — a statement that
Psaki said disagreed with, but nevertheless restated in
different words.
“Our position is that we do not need to make a
designation,” she said.
“We have determined that we do not need to make a
determination,” she added, breaking off discussion of
about the topic and leaving the interpretation of her
statements up to the media.
The spokeswoman has quarreled with AP reporter Matt Lee before.
Last month, Lee extensively questioned her about the Edward
Snowden case, asking whether it’s a crime for Russia to “let
someone into their own airport” and asking her whether Moscow
should deny someone the right to travel or whether Snowden should
be denied the right to free speech.
“I didn’t realize people who were wanted on charges forfeited
their right to speech — to free speech,” Lee said. “I also
didn’t realize that people who were not whistleblowers or not
human rights activists, as you say he is not, that they forfeited
their rights to speak, so I don’t understand why you’re
disappointed with the Russians.”
The spokeswoman was unable to explain herself yet again. And in
mid-July, Psaki and Lee had another argument about Egypt. Lee was
challenging her to explicitly state that the US was pushing for
Morsi’s release, but Psaki said she would not “play this
game”, and failed to explain the State Department’s position
— a response that now appears to be a routine between the AP
reporter and the spokeswoman.
Republished from: RT