Belated Response From Egypt

The response from President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt to the murder of the American ambassador in Libya and the attacks on the United States Embassy in Cairo should have been swift and unequivocal. Condemn the violence, express condolences for the killings and pledge to strengthen security at foreign missions. that’s what Libyan leaders did.
Instead, Mr. Morsi initially issued only a mild rebuke of the rioters — on Facebook. His primary concern was railing against a hatemongering anti-Muslim video that provided an excuse for the protests. It took until Thursday — after a telephone call from President Obama — before Mr. Morsi personally condemned the killing of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in Libya and vowed to protect foreign embassies in Cairo. As the new president of an aspiring democracy, Mr. Morsi is still trying to balance competing forces, including his own party, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the harder line Salafis, both of which have a history of antipathy toward the United States. The Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis suggested on Thursday that they would work to calm tensions. They will have a chance to prove that on Friday when more protests are planned. Mr. Morsi should leave no doubt that violence will not be tolerated.
Otherwise, there is little chance of rescuing Egypt from its deep economic hole. The United States has provided Cairo as much as $2 billion a year, though some members of Congress are calling for an end to such aid. If Americans and other Westerners cannot trust that Egypt is reasonably safe, there is little reason to back a $4.8 billion International Monetary Fund loan or follow through on promised debt relief and investment.
Khairat el-Shater, a top Muslim Brotherhood leader, in a letter to the editor of The Times, expressed the hope that the relationship the Americans and Egyptians have worked to build in the last few months can survive the week’s events. We hope so, too. Both countries will pay a price if they let extremists push them apart.