The White House has insisting that it is “not in the best interests” of America to notice that a military coup happened in Egypt last week, and they will instead continue to provide Egypt’s military, and now junta with large amounts of aid.

The Obama Administration is trying to sell this policy to the public as one of “not taking sides” in Egypt, but it would be more accurate to say that they are ignoring US law, which specifically forbids providing military aid after a coup.

The word coup, after all, has a very specific definition, and the Obama Administration’s decision to not use the word to characterize what happened in Egypt doesn’t change anything about the letter or intent of the law.

The public attempts to avoid staking out a position also belies behind-the-scenes maneuvering by the administration, pressing Egypt’s ousted government to accept the military’s takeover, an indication that the real policy is quiet support for the coup.