Despite the Obama administration’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood and President over the past year, the U.S. government has not condemned the country’s military, which ousted the leader last week. America’s mixed signals have drawn significant anger from pro- and anti-Morsi activists across Egypt.
After President Mohamed Morsi was elected last year in Egypt’s first democratic election, the Obama administration bridged the gap between the two governments and gave relatively significant financial assistance to the Muslim Brotherhood-controlled government, angering Morsi’s critics.
On the other hand, in light of Morsi’s recent removal from office, Obama has refused to call it a military coup, reports the Washington Post, damaging his relationship with the Brotherhood.
The government’s refusal to label Morsi’s ousting as a military coup means that Egypt continues to receive $1.5 billion in annual U.S. assistance, most of which goes to the military, now considered the Muslim Brotherhood’s opponent, according to Reuters.
The U.S. will also send four F-16 fighter jets to the Egyptian military.
Though the U.S. government’s favor currently seems to be leaning towards the military and Morsi’s opponents and critics, most of the anti-Morsi public seems reluctant to ignore Obama’s past support of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“We love the American people. But we hate Obama and Patterson,” said Bolis Victor, a 34-year-old middle-class merchant in Cairo, referring to U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Anne W. Patterson.
“She needs to pack her bags. She needs to go home. We hate her more than Morsi himself, and that is something very remarkable.” His fellow anti-Morsi activists nearby nodded in agreement.
Eric Trager, an Egypt specialist and Next Generation fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, attempted to explain their feelings, the Daily Star reports: “A large proportion of Egyptians believe the U.S. props up the Muslim Brotherhood by not criticizing them when they were at their worst. Until the U.S. administration comes out and says what its policy is on Egypt, there will be mass confusion and conspiracies.”
On the other side of the Egyptian political divide, Morsi supporters feel that Obama has turned his back on everything Islam.
“Obama supports democracy, but only if it goes to those who aren't Islamists,” said El-Sayyed Abdel Rabennabi, 41, at a vigil outside Rabaa Adawiya mosque, according to Reuters.
Above, Muslim Brotherhood Youth prepare to clash with anti-Morsi protesters.
Images: Twitter, Twitter, Twitter
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