Pentagon Tight Lipped On Egyptian Unrest

Pentagon spokesperson Col. David Lapan told reporters Friday that the Defense Department believes the Egyptian military is acting with “restraint” and “professionalism” amid the ongoing unrest in the country, but was reluctant to offer further comment on their conduct.

The Department has reported that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has spoken with his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Hussein Tantawi 3 times since last weekend, but has declined to provide the press with basic information on the calls, including their length and focus.

The Defense Secretary was not made available for questions from the media since the crisis escalated over the weekend, nor is he scheduled to appear next week.