The AP reports that some top officials in Mohamed Morsi’s government aren’t too familiar with the idea of open government (or rather, what passes for it in Egypt). In a meeting with the president this week to discuss what Egypt should do about Ethiopia’s plans to build a large new dam on the Blue Nile, ministers suggested that Egypt should arm various rebel groups in Ethiopian territory to get the government to back off, or actually sabotage the dam project themselves – unaware that the session was being broadcast on live television. Say what you want about the new Egypt, at least government ministers have learned they can’t talk about bombing their neighbors wherever they want anymore.

There appeared to be a bipartisan consensus something has to be done about the project, which will affect Egypt’s water supply: A member of a conservative Islamist party said that cooperative “communication” with Ethiopian rebels would be the best idea, but “if all this fails, then there is no choice left for Egypt but to play the final card, which is using the intelligence service to destroy the dam.” Meanwhile, a liberal minister agreed Ethiopia needed to get the message, but that Egypt should do so by spreading rumors that it would be acquiring refueling aircraft necessary to bomb the dam. One peaceful, TV-friendly proposal was put forth: Another liberal minister said the Egyptian government could try to build cooperation with Ethiopia through a joint film festival and translation missions.

Yesterday at the State Department’s daily press briefing, the department’s spokesman was asked about the situation’s ”escalating rhetoric,” and said, ”Over the last year we have seen good cooperation between the Ethiopian and Egyptian governments to jointly examine the impacts” of the dam.