US lawmakers had few concerns about military rule in Egypt before protests

By John T. Bennett - 11/23/11 12:32 PM ET

New unrest is raging in Egypt, with citizens calling for the military there to end its rule, but many U.S. lawmakers had few concerns over the military taking power there in February.

Protesters and police have been clashing violently with police for several days, calling for the nation's interim military rulers to step down immediately.

Despite the military firing the nation's interim Cabinet and saying it will hold elections earlier than initially planned, nearly 40 people are dead and the future of a nation that is vital to the North African-Middle Eastern region is again murky. But as The Hill reported Feb. 11, U.S. lawmakers seemed more than comfortable with the emerging military government.

Some lawmakers, like Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said at that time that she has no worries about the temporary military rulers.

“The military there gives the Egyptian people a feeling of security and stability,” Davis said. “And the fact that the Pentagon, that our military officials have been talking and planning with them is probably a good thing.”

Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), House Foreign Relations Committee ranking member, declared “the support of the Egyptian military is critical.”

Berman told The Hill the Egyptian military during the protests that forced out Hosni Mubarak had been "the defender of stability.”

With that stability now gone, skeptical lawmakers like Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), also a Foreign Affairs Committee member, sound newly prescient. In February, Barton told The Hill Mubarak’s ouster was a “military coup.”

He then added: “It will probably be OK for a while.”