In the wake of its call for the arrest of an American pastor, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton believes Egypt is no longer a trusted American ally.
Egypt has issued an arrest warrant for seven Egyptians and an American pastor for their participation in making a recent controversial anti-Islam film. According to the BBC, Egypt's public prosecutor maintains seven Coptic Christians -- one woman and seven men -- and Florida pastor Terry Jones will be tried by a criminal court on charges of "insulting the Islamic religion, insulting the prophet, and inciting sectarian strife" in the "Innocence of Muslims" film made in California.
The filmmaker is also known for angering Muslims in 2010 by threatening to burn the Koran.
John Bolton, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said he is not surprised at the aggressive posturing of Egypt's new Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi.
"He's replaced some of the top defense officials with Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers," notes the ambassador. "I think people are surprised at how aggressive Morsi has been."
Bolton asserts a recent change of power throughout the Arab nations is not necessarily an improvement over previous leaders.
"So when you hear people talk in this country or in Europe about the success of the 'Arab Spring,' that all sounds very good," he tells OneNewsNow. "But if you ask the people who are living under the prospect of rule by the Muslim Brotherhood, they're demonstrating what they think of it -- and I'm very, very worried about the direction Egypt's going in."
Egyptian officials have urged the U.S. government to take legal steps against those who they believe insulted the Muslim religion. If convicted, those for whom arrest warrants were issued could face the death penalty.
In response to the anti-American protests spreading in the Muslim world, President Obama stated last week while the U.S. would not consider Egypt an ally, "we don't consider them an enemy."