President Obama described Egypt as neither a friend nor a foe in a televised interview that aired first on The Rachel Maddow Show Wednesday.
"I don't think we would consider them an ally. But we don't consider them an enemy," Obama told Telemundo's José Díaz-Balart. "They are a new government that's trying to find its way."
Obama continued: "They were democratically elected. I think that we are going to have to respond to this incident, how they respond to maintaining the peace treaty with Israel."
The interview will be shown Thursday morning on Telemundo, but The Rachel Maddow Show aired exclusive early clips.
Maddow highlighted the significance of Obama's comment."In diplomacy, at the presidential level, words are chosen very, very carefully," she said. "And those words represent news in terms of the U.S. relationship with a country which had, during the time of Hosni Mubarak, been among America's closest allies in the Arab world."
In the interview, Obama also called for a full investigation to find out who was behind the deadly attack in Libya Tuesday that left four Americans dead—including the U.S. ambassador.
"Our hope is to be able to capture them, but we'll obviously have to cooperate with the Libyan government," Obama said.
A crowd stormed the U.S. embassy in Cairo, too. In both cases, the riots were reportedly spurred by a crude anti-Islam video that was posted to YouTube and whose origins remain murky.
Obama said the U.S. is insisting that the country ensure that U.S. embassies and their personnel are protected. "If not, I think that's going to be a real big problem," said Obama.
Meanwhile, new evidence suggests that the attack in Libya may have been perpetrated by terrorists who used the mob uproar as cover for the deadly attack. Mitt Romney's campaign was criticized Wednesday for issuing a statement Tuesday night calling it "disgraceful that the Obama administration's first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks." In fact, a statement by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo that condemned attacks on Islam was issued before the Embassy was breached.
On Telemundo, Obama reiterated that his GOP opponent has a "tendency to shoot before" he aims." As president," Obama said, "my obligation is to focus on security for our people, making sure that we're advancing American interests, not having ideological arguments on a day when we're mourning the loss of outstanding folks who have served our country very well."
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Kind of all of those "present" votes he made throughout his political career. And, mor currently, like the equivalent "present" vote he is currently making in the teacher's strike.
The President is exceptionally good at diplomacy. He is using his genius to push the Egyptian Government towards doing their responsibility to protect diplomats. Rarely does one see this kind of true perfection, in verbally moving a situation towards you own nations interests.
And it worked! as I watched Lawrence O'Donnell, just a short while after Obama said this re Egypt, the Egyptian police cleared the crowd without violence, just with their presence.
You stated this perfectly! Sometimes just to question where the relationship stands with no threat or bluster can get a better result. I agree he understands the finer points of diplomacy. Thanks!
I can't belive what you just said about Obama's genius. I am apalled that the President has the gall to be in NV campaigning and raising money the day after a diplomat is murdered and our Embassy attacked. Really?!? He can't take one full day to take care of business, think about what is happening and mourn our losses. What kind of leader and man is he. He is more worried about his campaign than the events unfolding around the world that our country must respond to.
And we are appalled that Mitt Romney was so offended by the US Embassy in Cairo being dismissive of that pro-Christian movie that he shot off his mouth and continued to be blazing with his obviously Christian fanaticism in doubling down on his attack on our president and the Embassy's effort to pre-emptively calm the people of Egypt BEFORE there was any big protest at all.
like his staff says, he can walk and chew gum at same time. Doesn't matter where he is, the President is always on the job. Remember how often GWB went to the Ranch in Texas? He was also always on the job. just preferred that place to DC. the President also doesn't have to do anything about this, just be available to discuss things and make decisions. He can pretty much do that wherever he is.
I suspect that our President really can walk and chew gum as has been pointed out. He is not into cancelling campaigns and scheduled appearances, as others have been wont to do, whenever life happens. That's a real President. Four more years to complete what he started!
Thank you Jes33. You are right! His diplomacy is horrible. "They are neither a friend or an ally, they are just a new government trying to find their way".?????????? really!!!!!! (Obama said the U.S. is insisting that the country ensure that U.S. embassies and their personnel are protected. "If not, I think that's going to be a real big problem," said Obama. ) well do you think?????
(Obama continued: "They were democratically elected. I think that we are going to have to respond to this incident, how they respond to maintaining the peace treaty with Israel.") really you THINK we are going to react to this incident? and yes, let's let them try to annihilate Israel then THINK about how we should do it! good plan barry!
What a silly remark. Obama's diplomacy is EXQUISITE.
Hate is a terrible thing. Seek help
OOPS hit the reply to wrong person Not you Jim
I think he ( Obma ) could do nothing to please some people. Obama is one of the sharpest on Diplomacy in a long time.
The President got it right. It is too soon to call them our allies. Especially when they allowed this attack to happen on their soil and didn't do much to squelch or condemn the riots. Anyone who wants to have the title of "ally" with the U.S.A. must show it first. We can't afford to give them that title until they have earned it. And Egypt has not earned it yet. And to tell you the truth, I don't think they ever will. I don't trust them not one bit.
basically, it's a difference of opinion over what strategy to use. The Neocons and GWB and now Romney seem to think we can export Democracy through military force. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Democracy should be something the people want, not have stuffed down their throat. Besides, there are all kinds of democracies in the world. We frequently don't get the kind we want when we use military force (i.e. Iraq, etc.). The other opinion is to use diplomacy and respect in dealing with countries and make friends and allies to move our agenda along.
Egypt is neither an ally nor enemy, it is just a long standing and trusted partner? Talk about being definitive. This ranks up there with his amazing record of "present" while in Illinois as a legislator. But the best thing is he accused the other side of shooting before aiming...
How's that diplomacy working for us? We've lost our closest thing to ally's in the Middleast through the Arab Spring on Obama's watch. Attacks keep on coming. Iran is close to nukes. Sanctions and talks allow more and more time to reach their goal. We are either going to have to take the nukes out or learn to live with them. God forbid we have to do that. The attacks we have seen in the past will pale in comparison. Iran's support of terrorist groups will insure that they will have access to nukes. The fanatics are going to just keep on coming. They don't recognize diplomacy and respect. All the money, aid, and kindness we send them blows back in hatred and violence. How do you deal with that using diplomacy. Military action doen't seem to do anything either, but we MUST have a strong military to defend against these people. Originally, the federal government was developed mainly to defend our country. Out of necessity, that remains its major job.
Welcome to the REAL world.
Jenann, you are right. He would Never cancel a public appearance. He loves to be on TV like the rock star he thinks he is. The View, Letterman and all of those really important appearances that do nothing for the conditions of our country are his passion and priority. I agree that a pres can work wherever, but when he is using his time campaigning and being on TV, that is not productive. You would think in times of crisis, out of respect for the office, he would at least pretend to be on the job for 1 day. In my memory, I have never seen a president on TV programs that have nothing to do with news as much as Obama. If he wants to sing and entertain, move to Hollywood to be with his donors.
I find it disturbing that Richard Engel, Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell and others, with the realization that Egypt may no longer be our ally, have alluded that perhaps it would have been better for the U.S. not to have sided with the rebellion. Is, then, your opinion to save our good standing with these countries we should have ignored the atrocities the people were suffering? Leave them under a dictatorship government, suffering from the lack of civil liberties that we take for granted? We must stand behind our values wherever they come into question or are denied anywhere in the world. It is disheartening that these journalist that I count on to teach me about our standing here at home and abroad would want to abandon our dedication to our values so that we can "use" another country. Of course I think that it is important to have allies in the Arab world but not at the cost of others' freedoms. We just must strive harder to form allies with the new democracies.
Wow! All the Repugs are on MSNBC spewing their ignorance and hate. I guess they got tired of hating over on Fox so they must have decided to come spread their lies and hate over here. That's what they do best so no big surprise.
Melissa can people sue the state that they don't get to have their vote because of the system that is now in place?
Melissa can a person sue the state that they didn't get to vote because of the new law that is now in place!