Anti-Americanism Erupting Again in Egypt

With former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi toppled, Egypt is once again seeing a rising tide of anti-Americanism. 

As the Los Angeles Times notes, “anti-Americanism, which has long been an undercurrent here, is erupting again” as “each side accuses the United States of backing the other and alleges conspiracies in which the Obama administration is secretly fostering dissent in an attempt to weaken Egypt.”

Hosni Mubarak, the strongman who had ruled Egypt until 2011, often deflected much of the country’s problems onto America. And future politicians may be able to again exploit the anger against Americans, as the Times notes the “U.S. appears to have alienated both sides, underscoring waning American influence and credibility as it attempts to navigate the turmoil.”

Just last month, America sent $1.3 billion more in foreign aid to a country whose citizens seem to hate America more and are intent on blaming its problems on the United States. 

(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the appointment of Mohamed ElBaradei to Interim Prime Minister being put on hold.)