So the Obama administration could sell F-16s to the Muslim Brotherhood, but not to the military that is not only keeping them down, but keeping the peace with Israel?
Mr. Obama, administration officials said, wanted to send Egypt’s military-led government a signal of American displeasure with the chaotic situation there, which has been marked by continued violence, the detention of Mr. Morsi and other leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, and a transition that has not included the Brotherhood.
Of course, one might ask precisely whom the Egyptians are protecting themselves from with the purchase of F-16s. Fair point… but let us also consider that the Russians, the Chinese, and the EU are more than happy to supplant the United States as an option of first resort.
In which case, all that soft power talk goes away rather quickly.
