Why Does the U.S. Support Morsi?

Prague, CZ
06.07.2013
By Thomas Secrest

Strange as it may seem, one day after the military took control of Egypt, Obama gave a speech that was very clearly pro-Morsi and anti-revolution. I encourage you to listen to the entire speech and decided for yourself. The statement is short, only about 3 minutes long. Assuming you agree with me, the question becomes, why?

Remember that for 30 years Egypt was an important alley of the U.S. The regional has never been stable, so having Egypt as an alley was critical for American foreign policy. It shared a border with Israel and was a counterbalance to the influence of Iran and Syria.

U.S. backing was without regard to the fact that Egypt was a military dictatorship and there was nothing even remotely democratic about it. Mubarak promised to prevent Iranian-style Islamic radicalization and the money and weapons began to flow.

When the people of Egypt rose-up and demanded a democratically elected government and a new president, the U.S. stood by silently. Day after day Mubark tried to crush the revolution with increasingly harsh measures and day after day Obama said nothing that could be construed as supporting the democratic wishes of the people. Considering that America is the bar of democracy by which all others are measured, it was a bit surprising that the U.S. said nothing (or was it?).

Of course, Mubarak fell after 18 days of ever growing unrest and protests. The military stepped in and Egypt went from an military pseudo-democratic dictatorship to an official dictatorship. The military held on to power for over a year until the Egyptian people once again entered the streets in protest.

Eventually elections were held and Morsi and the Muslim brotherhood came to power. For the Egyptians it was a painful lesson in democracy. They had failed to realize that democracy heavily favors the rich and powerful.

However, the Egyptians had learn another lesson in democracy, if you put enough people in the streets, you can force those who would subvert democracy out of power.

Perhaps now you are starting to see why Obama and many other democratically elected world leaders are chafing at what's happening in Egypt.

Egypt has shown the world that if you can put enough people in the streets, the will of the people can trump money and power and pseudo-democratically elected presidents. Obama would say that the people of Egypt should work for change through voter turnout not protest turnout. Of course he would say that, since he is a product of a democracy of, and for, the powerful elite.

For all those who have purchased, bartered, stolen or inherited their place at the table, the idea of writers, activists, intellectuals, moderates and progressives, plus the millions of people they represent, walking into the streets and demanding that they too be seated at the table, must be horrifying.