Clinton to Egypt's Morsi: Find way out of crisis

(AP) CAIRO - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton used her first meeting with Egypt's new Islamist president to press Mohammed Morsi to start a dialogue with military leaders as a way of preserving the country's transition to democracy.

Clinton voiced support for the "full transition" to civilian rule at a time when Morsi's backers are in a political standoff with the generals who have ruled since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year.

Resolving the impasse "requires dialogue and compromise, real politics," Clinton said. She said the United State is doing all it can to "support the democratically elected government and to help make it a success in delivering results for the people of Egypt."

The meeting at the presidential palace kicked off a series of high-level sessions aimed at stabilizing Egypt's fledgling democracy and its alliance with the United States, once rock-solid but now increasingly shaky.

"Things change (at) kind of warp speed," Clinton told Morsi as they began their meeting.

Clinton and Morsi didn't shake hands, at least when they first appeared before reporters — a subject of much speculation because of Morsi's Muslim faith. But the president shook hands with Clinton and the entire U.S. delegation behind closed doors, according to a U.S. official.

The president, speaking in English, said, "We are very, very keen to meet you and happy that you are here." Clinton and Morsi were seated perpendicular to one another, the American on a sofa and the Egyptian on a chair.

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Morsi is in a showdown with the generals since at least ceremonially gaining power on June 30. Right before his inauguration, the generals retained stripped him of many powers and kept them for themselves.

That move followed a decision last month by Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court to dissolve the Islamist-dominated parliament, the first democratically elected, after ruling that a third of its members were elected illegally. Morsi has issued a decree to bring the lawmakers, many of whom are his allies in the Muslim Brotherhood, back into session.

The U.S. has been careful not to take sides, focusing on principles instead of personalities and parties. The Obama administration has called on all sides to negotiate a path forward that remains faithful to the ideals of Egypt's 2011 revolution.

Appearing at a news conference alongside Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr, Clinton said it was up to Egyptians to determine their future. But she stressed American financial and political support for Egypt's new government. She was careful, however, to also praise Egypt's military council for its interim leadership.

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[chipsmydog]

Is there one country on earth the U.S. does not send money?

[jbrote47]

Only with obama being in the White House would this ever happen. A US secretary of state meeting with a known terrorist. This is the kind of stuff that makes our coward in chief so disgusting.

[pleasechoseanother]

Talk about stupid,gullible, and true to her hair color.

[fiddlestickawshucks]

I feel so sorry for Hillary Clinton.

People criticize her not only for her words; but even the way her hair looks.

The way her hair looks has absolutely nothing to do with her capabilities as Secretary of State.

Keep in mind also, that she is really only re-laying information to the heads of different countries and did not neccessarily come to these conclusions on her own.

She probably spend 90% of her time trying to clean up the messes that Obama and Congress have made.

I wish she would run for President in the election this November.

You cannot dispute the fact that she is a strong woman, intelligent and obviously very diplomatic.

Problem is; I doubt any Democrat has the stones to suggest that she be drafted to run; for fear of being called a racist.

I'd be really happy if they impeached both Obama and John Boehner.!

Obama has clearly proven he has no idea what he's doing, and the thought of him becoming President for four more years is really SCARY.

WHAT A MESS.!!!

[tom_gwynn]

Obama doesn't know what he's doing? That sure would be a surprise to Bin Ladin. (Oh, that's right, you can't ask him, he's dead). Or to the GM workers turning out some of the hottest-selling automobiles in the world (Again the #1 Automaker in the world including *China*.)

Thanks to Obama, your children can stay on your health insurance until they're 26. Your insurance company can't drop you for getting sick. Your bank can't re-order the transactions in your account so that you overdraft and hit you with massive fees. Your Credit Card company can't charge you usurious rates for missing a payment... shall I go on?

About the only thing Obama hasn't been able to overcome is slow growth and a stubbornly high unemployment rate. That only proves that he's human. The only other president that faced anything approaching the economic mess Obama inherited was Herbert Hoover, a Republican. After some feeble early attempts to loosen the money supply and free up credit, Hoover resorted to Republican orthodoxy, tightened credit, tried to balance the budget... *Everything Republicans today are clamoring for* and brought on Great Depression. At this point in Great Depression, unemployment was over 25%, well above Obama's measly 8.2%, and the GDP was in a deflationary death spiral. People were in bread lines and kids were going hungry. Judged by that comparison, Obama's done very well indeed. Between them, Obama and Bernanke may have darned well saved Western Civilization. He fully deserves another four years and the only thing that's scary is that a Republican who is too lazy to study history might get elected instead, and repeat Hoover's mistakes. Remember, everything the Republicans want now, Hoover did. And it cratered the economy for over a decade.

[melpol12]

Hillary has gone to Egypt with the task of converting Morsi into another Gandhi or M.L.K. He is open to pacification but his price is high, she must pay or Morsi will lead the Brotherhood into Gaza.

[AVoiceofR3ason]

Many moderate Egyptians are trying to get out of the country. Expect more blood to be spilled, more protests. Sorry but democracy does not work in all instances.

[Ulgnud]

Issues in Egypt are for those citizens to work out. Relax Hillary. I am quite sure Mr Morsi is well aware of the politics and issues he is working to solve.

[GeorgeKafantaris]

Often saying nothing or doing nothing is the best course to take.?
Indeed, time and space can work magic -- if we allow.

[realtimecoffee]

Do no harm? Man that would revolutionize American government.

[A_R_Med]

You've got to be kidding me?? There is no way that a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood will pursue democracy. Clinton is smarter than that & I realize she is doing the best she can. But it is absurd & candidly she is siding with the wrong folks. Like them or not, the Eqyptian Military is stable & offers stability to the region. I do believe though that Egypt will slide into a troubling situation as the "Arab Spring" particpants whi never planned on a Sharia driven society see unsettling changes & I know the Military is unwilling to let that become the norm. Maybe a civil war??

[melpol12]

Praise the Brotherhood; they are creating the long awaited Caliphate that will Islamize the greater Middle-East. Allah will keep their minds occupied while the civilized world pumps out barrels of precious oil.