State Dept: ‘We Have Determined That We Do Not Need To Make A Determination’

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told Matt Lee of the Associated Press today that the U.S. had “determined that we do not need to make a determination” over whether or not the ousting of Mohamed Morsi in Egypt was a coup.

Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) called it a coup Tuesday, but the Obama administration has deliberately avoided using the word:

LEE: In response to the first question about Senator McCain’s comments, you gave – you said, our position has not changed, as you just did with Morsi. On McCain’s comments, though, our position has not changed – then you said the U.S. government has stated what our position is. Could you remind us all of what your position actually is? Because as I recall, your position was that you don’t have a position, and that’s not quite – is that correct?

PSAKI: Matt, I think you know our position, which is that –

LEE: I – tell me.

PSAKI: There was a determination made that we need to – not need to make a designation.

LEE: So then – so your position is that you do not have a position, correct?

PSAKI: Our position is that we do not need to make a designation. Mmm hmm – oh, go ahead, Nicolas (sp).

Q: Yeah, does Deputy Secretary Burns plan to meet with President Morsi? We talked about it yesterday, but –

PSAKI: I don’t have any other plans for that on his schedule.

LEE: Can I just go back to your answer to my question?

PSAKI: Yes.

LEE: You do understand that you don’t have a position on this, don’t you?

PSAKI: We have not made a determination –

LEE: But don’t – you go and say, our position has not changed, but you don’t have a position. You don’t have a position that could – a position means taking a side or taking a stance or making a determination. And since you didn’t do that, you do not, by definition, have a position.

PSAKI: We have –

LEE: Correct?

PSAKI: I would disagree with you, Matt.

LEE: You have a position on whether what happened in Egypt was a coup?

PSAKI: We have determined that we do not need to make a determination.

LEE: Isn’t that the same as not having a position?

PSAKI: I will – I will let you parse yourself.

LEE: OK.

Lee has often found himself befuddled at Psaki’s answers since she took over spokesperson duties at the State Department.

Source: Free Beacon

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