President Obama is in a tough spot when it comes to deciding his next step on Egypt as he weighs the best way to demonstrate U.S. condemnation of the bloody military crackdown on supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi while trying to influence the interim military-run government.

Some critics are calling on the U.S. to cut off the $1.5 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Egypt, but Obama has steered clear of such talk, opting for a far more cautious approach.