This morning on America’s Newsroom Ambassador John Bolton cited the lack of improvement in the Egyptian economy since Muslim Brotherhood-backed president Mohammed Morsi took power as a major reason for the current civil unrest. Ambassador Bolton says it was a mistake for the Obama administration to support forcing out Mubarak, who was an ally of the United States and supported the Camp David Accords with Israel.
BILL HEMMER: The president called him I guess earlier today, overnight our time to be responsive to the protesters. Now what does that mean?
JOHN BOLTON: Well who knows what the president means? But what I think is motivating the protestors in part is when Morsi took over about a year ago the Egyptian economy was in the tank and he has not only not made it better, he made it worse. And that obviously has people understandably upset. But for a particular reason as well. Because they see the Muslim Brotherhood pursuing its Islamist Sharia law agenda as if the economy were only a side issue. I think that really burns people and that explains, I think the size and to some extent the emotion behind these protests.
HEMMER: The images are amazing and to think, it feels like it has been going on for two years frankly, in Cairo especially. Now are you of the school that believes this administration pushed Mubarak to the side and did it quickly and willingly but is not eager to do the same with Morsi?
BOLTON: Well I think we made a big mistake. I said it at the time in forcing Mubarak out. He’s no Jeffersonian democrat but he was an ally of the United States who supported the Camp David Accord with Israel, and he said over and over again if I go the Muslim Brotherhood will take over. Let’s not forget although Morsi himself won election narrowly, the Brotherhood and even more extreme Islamist groups won two-thirds to three-quarters of the seats in parliament. So this dissatisfaction you’re seeing doesn't necessarily mean a more competent Islamist government could not pursue these objectives, more successfully.