McCain and Graham fail to sway Egyptians
Republican Senator’s John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are in Egypt attempting to urge the disputing parties to resolve their differences and engage in a national dialogue.
During a press release Tuesday in Cairo, McCain demanded the Egyptian authorities to release political prisoners and hold a national dialogue to which the Muslim Brotherhood should be part.
“Democracy is the only viable path to stability,” said McCain, calling for “an inclusive political process in which all Egyptians are free to participate.
In addition, both Senators called the military’s July 3 ouster of Morsi as a “coup,”something the administration has been unwilling to do, receiving cool receptions from political, military and civil society leaders in Egypt.
“In a democracy, you have to talk to each other. It is impossible to talk to somebody in jail,” Graham said.
“The judicial system will deal with this in the future. Jailing opposition is not the exercise of a legitimate power,” he said.
The Muslim Brotherhood was none to thrilled with the Senator’s visit either being unaware of the Senator’s coming. “We have no news of their visit,” Essam Al-Aryan, Vice Chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party said.
The Media Line reports, Egyptian diplomat Mohammed Naguib said of the visit. “The two gentlemen from the US Senate should immediately pack their toothbrushes, maybe take a quick tour around the pyramids and the Sphinx, take a photo of a camel or two, maybe buy a couple of Nefertiti busts for Mrs. McCain and Mrs. Graham, and be on their merry way back to the United States,” he said.
“The Egyptian nation thanks them. They have shown Egyptians amazing insight, immense understanding, stupendous analysis and future vision never before seen or surpassed on the shores of the Nile since Julius Caesar visited. God bless, good bye; and above all, good riddance. Oh, and before I forget, don’t come back!” Naguib inveighed.
The McCain-Graham visit was carried out at President Obama’s request.
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