In a visit with the Egyptian military on Tuesday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) referred to the removal of former president Mohamed Morsi as a “coup,” while the U.S. government has refused to label it as such.
McCain and his colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), arrived in Cairo on Monday as a part of an effort to smooth over relations with the Egyptian interim government and its opposition, the Muslim Brotherhood.
“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 a visit with senior officials in Egypt, according to the Guardian.
“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,” he continued.
The U.S. government has avoided labeling Morsi’s removal a “coup,” as it would put an end to the $1.3 billion in annual aid to the Egyptian government and military.
McCain’s statement blatantly contradicts the Obama administration.
“The statement he made does not help very much,” said Mustapha Al Sayyid, a professor of political science at Cairo University and the American University in Cairo.
“To say what happened in Egypt is a coup, I don't think this will (sit) well in the eyes of people who support the interim government,” he continued, according to USA Today. “I think if he will act as a mediator, he should refrain from making statements that will be offensive to one of the parties.”
Image: WikiCommons
