The Associated Press assesses the willingness of the White House to accept an Egyptian government heavily backed by the army, and finds the administration… not totally unwilling, actually:

The White House is reluctantly preparing to accept an Egyptian government that could be a democracy in name only, two years after the U.S. supported the overthrow of its dictator in the name of democracy.

The U.S. is still holding out hope that Egypt’s military-backed interim leaders will cede power once elections scheduled for early next year are held and that an inclusive government will be formed under a publicly drafted constitution. But if that doesn’t happen… the Obama administration cannot afford to distance itself from even an authoritarian Egypt.

“I don’t think the White House was under the illusion that some sort of liberal and enlightened system was going to emerge from the ashes of the dictator in Egypt,” said Tamara Cofman Wittes, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state from 2009 to 2012.

Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this month declared that the Egyptian military was “restoring democracy” last month when it responded to a week of mass anti-government protests by stripping then-president Mohammed Morsi of power. Kerry particularly noted the popular nature of the protests:

US Secretary of State John Kerry has said Egypt’s military was “restoring democracy” when it ousted elected President Mohammed Morsi last month. Mr Kerry said the removal was at the request of “millions and millions of people”. His remarks came as police prepare to disperse two pro-Morsi sit-ins in the capital, Cairo.

Agence France-Presse emphasized at the time that the army’s actions enjoy ongoing popularity, citing media reports trumpeting popular support, an evaluation later echoed by media outlets and even polling data.

[Photo: Euronews / YouTube]