CAIRO: With political uncertainty over the future of Egypt's infant new presidency of Mohamed Morsi, American Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for meetings with the new president as well as the country's military leader Hussein Tantawi. According to US officials, Panetta will be looking to reach a balance on security concerns and the democratic transition, which has stumbled in recent months after the military moved ahead of the handover to Morsi to ensure it regained much of its political weight. The visit will be Panetta's first chance to meet with President Morsi since he took office officially on June 30. Egypt's military has said it would not allow one group, or party, from taking control of Egypt, ostensibly referring to the growing popularity of the Muslim Brotherhood, a conservative Islamic group that won nearly half of seats in the now dissolved Parliament and now controls the presidency. Despite ongoing campaigns in the US to defame officials for speaking with Egypt's Brotherhood, the US appears to have accepted new Egypt President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, with a top American official saying that the country was satisfied in dealing with the new president and the Islamic group. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Mike Hammer was quoted by Egypt's al-Shorouq newspaper as saying Washington would deal with “satisfaction" with the new Egyptian leadership. “The delegation's visit the American trade in the coming period represents an important for Egypt, who want to recover from a period of a difficult economic situation after the revolution," Hammer said, adding that the upcoming visit by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was an indication that Egypt “is moving in a positive direction, and can begin to stimulate tourism and investment, to advance a successful democracy and ensure respect for the rights of all individuals." Speaking specifically on Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, Hammer said, “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held a very positive meeting with President Morsi." He also said that US is “willing to work with the Egyptian government's new democratically elected government in an attempt to create opportunities, especially on the economic side." Hammer stressed that the focus for the US is to “support the aspirations of the Egyptian people." He added that he hopes Egypt will continue to push forward on its infant democracy in the coming months. His comments come as a campaign by conservative Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann has lashed out at State Department officials for their alleged ties with the Brotherhood and its “infiltration" into top US government positions. It has heightened tensions between Egypt and the US and is seen as a potential threat to future relations.
