In a White House statement from Jay Carney they are congratulating the Muslim Brotherhood for winning the elections in Egypt. Under Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak the Muslim Brotherhood was banned because of their complicity in the assassination of former Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat. President Obama called the new Egyptian leader, Mohamed Morsi calling his election a “milestone.” “We look forward to working together with President-elect Morsi and the government he forms, on the basis of mutual respect, to advance the many shared interests between Egypt and the United States,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. “We believe that it is important for President-elect Morsi to take steps at this historic time to advance national unity by reaching out to all parties and constituencies in consultations about the formation of a new government. We believe in the importance of the new Egyptian government upholding universal values, and respecting the rights of all Egyptian citizens – including women and religious minorities such as Coptic Christians. Millions of Egyptians voted in the election, and President-elect Morsi and the new Egyptian government have both the legitimacy and responsibility of representing a diverse and courageous citizenry,” Carney said. “The United States intends to work with all parties within Egypt to sustain our long-standing partnership as it consolidates its democracy. We commend the Presidential Election Commission and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) for their role in supporting a free and fair election, and look forward to the completion of a transition to a democratically elected government,” Carney said. “We believe it is essential for the Egyptian government to continue to fulfill Egypt’s role as a pillar of regional peace, security and stability. And we will stand with the Egyptian people as they pursue their aspirations for democracy, dignity, and opportunity, and fulfill the promise of their revolution.”
Senator Allen West had a different view on the election results and stated on his Facebook page, “A year ago there were those of us who warned the Obama administration of a Muslim Brotherhood takeover in Egypt. We were castigated as alarmists and loose cannons. Today our predictions have come to reality and the ominous specter reminding us of the Iranian revolution is evident,” he wrote. “Clearly the Arab Spring is nothing more than a radical Islamic nightmare. Now we need to unequivocally reiterate our support to the Coptic Christians and Israel.”
Other Senators have shown support for the new Egyptian government including Senator John Kerry who said in a statement, “Egypt remains a key partner for the United States, a leader in the region, and a bellwether for the long-term meaning of the Arab Spring. Obviously American concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood’s past statements and positions are widely shared and well understood. But it would be a mistake for us to pull back from our engagement with a free and democratic Egypt. This is a time to test intentions, not to prejudge them.”
Here is a video from Mohamed Morsi during the campaign;