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Egypt's Presidential Choice Stirs Deep Concerns in Washington

The Obama administration is decidedly undecided about Egypt's presidential election, publicly promising to work with the Egyptian people's choice, amid a sense that anything officials say could be irrelevant or backfire. But Barbara Slavin reports on deep concerns in Washington about Egypt’s choice between an Islamist and Mubarak’s last prime minister.
A supporter of candidate Ahmed Shafiq holds his picture as he celebrates in Cairo May 25, 2012. The prospect of Shafiq succeeding Hosni Mubarak as president of Egypt is a nightmare for revolutionaries and Islamists, but a security blanket for those wary of change. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

The Barack Obama administration is firmly not taking sides in Egypt’s presidential elections.

Speaking Wednesday at the US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, deputy national security adviser Denis McDonough stressed that “the choice in Egypt’s presidential election is for Egyptians alone. We’re committed to working with whomever is elected.”

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