The Goal of Islamists in Egypt is a Theocracy That Threatens Peace

Let's not kid ourselves into thinking that a deal is possible with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt!

As of Tuesday there appears to be a rough standoff in the situation in Egypt. Mass protests continue but without the sense of panic that gripped news media just days before. One gets the sense that much of the panic in earlier reports may have been overstated.

Still, it is a dangerous situation fraught with the most immense implications for U.S. foreign policy, national security and world peace.

I have yet to be convinced that the Obama Administration is up to the task of managing such a huge problem. In fact, there are continuing signs that their attitudes and actions may make the situation worse. Here's the latest:

U.S. open to a role for Islamists in new Egypt government
But the Muslim Brotherhood must renounce violence and support democracy, the White House says.
By Paul Richter and Peter Nicholas,
Los Angeles Times
January 31, 2011, 7:57 p.m.

Reporting from Washington — The Obama administration said for the first time that it supports a role for groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, a banned Islamist organization, in a reformed Egyptian government.

The organization must reject violence and recognize democratic goals if the U.S. is to be comfortable with it taking part in the government, the White House said. But by even setting conditions for the involvement of such nonsecular groups, the administration took a surprise step in the midst of the crisis that has enveloped Egypt for the last week.

The statement was an acknowledgment that any popularly accepted new government will probably include groups that are not considered friendly to U.S. interests, and was a signal that the White House is prepared for that probability after 30 years of reliable relations with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The headline above says it all. There is an old saying in Arabic: "If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow." Opening the door to the Muslim Brotherhood on the basis of some meaningless promise to reject violence and support democracy merely provides the figleaf that the Islamists need to take control of Egypt later.

It's not like we haven't seen this happen before. Those who remember the history of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 will recall that the secular government that took power after the fall of the Shah was replaced in little more than a month by the radical Khomeni regime.

Just this week we saw the return to Tunisia of a radical cleric after the overthrow the strong man in that country. Protesters who took part in the overthrow of the government are now protesting the anticipated move to impose Shariah Law. Women especially are concerned with the loss of their freedoms that would occur should that happen.

Muslim Brotherhood not so bad? Not so fast!

In Egypt, the Nobel laureate Mohammed El Baradei is positioning himself to be the "bridge to democracy" that would end the rule of Mubarak. El Baradei has also said he would work with the banned Muslim Brotherhood and that claims the Brotherhood is a threat is a "myth."

Some myth. Consider this: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attack got his start in a Muslim Brotherhood training camp. Al Queda's number two, Ayman Zawahiri was also a member of a Brotherhood offshoot group.

But that's all in the past now right? Sure.

Muslim Brotherhood: ‘Prepare Egyptians for war with Israel'
By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Jerusalem Post
02/01/2011 02:00

A leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt told the Arabic-language Iranian news network Al-Alam on Monday that he would like to see the Egyptian people prepare for war against Israel, according to the Hebrew-language business newspaper Calcalist.

Muhammad Ghannem reportedly told Al- Alam that the Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and that the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease “in order to bring about the downfall of the Mubarak regime.” He added that “the people should be prepared for war against Israel,” saying the world should understand that “the Egyptian people are prepared for anything to get rid of this regime.”

Does the statement above sound like a group that is prepared to renounce violence? Let's not forget that the motto of the Muslim Brotherhood remains:

“Allah is our objective.
The Prophet is our leader.
Qur'an is our law.
Jihad is our way.
Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.”

History is replete with examples of radical groups elbowing aside so-called democracy advocates once the job of dumping the dictator is accomplished. Included in that history are all the broken promises from the radical groups promising non-violence and reforms. Millions have died around the world because leaders like Obama were too naive and trusting to see what is going on behind the figleaf.

The interests of REAL PEACE are not served by taking the word of those whose sworn goal is our defeat!