Islamists Making Inroads in Egypt's New Government

Jerusalem Prayer Team ^ | 4/4/11 | Michael Evans

[Evil Slayer]

Is the dream of democracy turning into a nightmare of radical Islam for the hopeful in Egypt? The vision seems remote especially now that religion has surfaced as a strong political contender for the minds of the people.

The initial protests were based on a call for a democratic Egypt. Young, schooled, idealistic men and women were the first to drive the demonstrations calling for democracy. Now the Muslim Brotherhood has emerged, with the blessing of President Barack Obama, as a partner in whatever government the military decides is best for the country.

Many in Egypt's political circles deny any direct participation by the Muslim Brotherhood. However, the organization, while dormant to the naked eye, has worked behind the scenes to position itself for an eventual takeover. If that happens, Egypt will not experience hoped-for democracy but will be added to the list of caliphate-ready Islamic nations.

It now appears that the Brotherhood has managed to join itself to the military that once maligned it and its leaders. Elijah Zarwan with the International Crisis Group says, "There is evidence the Brotherhood struck some kind of a deal with the military early on. It makes sense if you are the military—you want stability and people off the street. The Brotherhood is one address where you can go to get 100,000 people off the street."

The protest leaders are now greatly concerned about the direction in which Egypt seems to have been taken. On the one hand, Mubarak is gone; on the other, demonstrations and sit-ins have been outlawed in the country. There is little transparency regarding demands for democracy and an end to the corruption that gripped the country.

Television producer Amr Koura expressed the feelings of many: "We are all worried. The young people have no control of the revolution anymore. It was evident in the last few weeks when you saw a lot of bearded people taking charge. The youth are gone."

And it's not only the youth who are concerned; Coptic Christians in Egypt are very wary of what the future may hold for them. There have already been clashes in which they were targeted. If the Brotherhood or the ultraconservative Salafis rise to the surface, what does that portend for Christians in the country?

During the initial protests, the Brotherhood refrained from any involvement. It was only after the hard work had been done and Egyptians hungry for democracy had died that the Brotherhood began to make its presence known. Touted for its strength and superb structure, the organization now seems to have taken charge in many areas. According to Mr. Zarwan, they have "set their sights higher." A well-positioned member of the Brotherhood stood alongside the new prime minister, Essam Sharaf, when he spoke to the protesters gathered in Tahrir Square. A member of the organization now sits on the committee appointed to draft the new Constitution. It is also to the advantage of the Brotherhood that one of the proposed amendments calls for holding parliamentary elections prior to September. That gives a decided advantage to the two best organized groups: the Muslim Brotherhood and Mubarak's National Democratic Party.

As has already been seen, the Brotherhood is not above fear tactics. Eligible voters were cautioned that if they failed to endorse the amendments, Egypt would be a country without religion. As one flier stated, "This means that the call to prayer will not be heard anymore like in the case of Switzerland; women will be banned from wearing the hijab like in the case of France. And there will be laws that allow men to get married to men and women to get married to women like in the case of America."

The tactic worked. When the vote was counted, 77.2 percent voted affirmatively. The Brotherhood leadership continues to contend that it has no proprietary interest in running the country. The Supreme Guide reiterates that the group does not intend to present a candidate for president and will run for only a little more than one-third of the seats in the Parliament. No one knows if the Brotherhood has inked some agreement with the ruling military.

A former dean of Zagazig law school, Nabil Ahmed Halmy, expressed his concern: "I worry about going too fast towards elections, that the parties are still weak. The only thing left right now is the Muslim Brotherhood. I do think that people are trying to take over the revolution." For many, the ascension of the once-banned group is troubling. The leaders of the democratic revolution see the need for better organization.

The coalition and others have said they see the overwhelming approval of the amendments and the rise of the Brotherhood as worrisome, and as evidence that more liberal forces need to organize for a more efficient disbursal of information—quickly.

The questions now become: Will the desire for democracy in Egypt turn into nothing more than a sectarian war between the different factions? It is too early to tell just how the game will play out? Who will check? Who will checkmate? There is only one certainty: Change can be a catalyst for either good or evil. It depends on who is directing the production from the wings—young Egyptians who desperately desire democracy, or the Muslim Brotherhood and its backers whose ultimate goal is to see all infidels in submission—or dead.

[Evil Slayer]

What Others Say about Mike Evans:

The Honorable Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel: "Mike Evans is a fighter for freedom in a world of darkening and narrowing horizons. In his devotion to Israel, Mike has consistently demonstrated the moral clarity that is necessary to defend Israel against the lies and distortions of its enemies, and championed the Jewish people's claim to the Land of Israel...I look forward to strengthening our friendship on his many future visits to Israel."

The Honorable Danny Ayalon, Ambassador of Israel: "The Prime Minister (Ariel Sharon) would like to express his personal appreciation to you, Mike Evans, for being such a great friend of Jerusalem and the State of Israel, speaking out with courage and compassion for over two decades. He salutes your achievements and wishes you continued success."

The Honorable Ehud Olmert, Former Prime Minister of Israel: "I have known Mike Evans for more than two decades, and I consider him to be a great friend of Jerusalem and the State of Israel. He has always been there for us in our time of need speaking out with courage and compassion. Mike Evans is a true ambassador of Jerusalem, representing millions of Christians in America."

[Pecos]

The non-MB only THOUGHT they were in charge of the Egyptian revolution. It's probably already too late for them to turn their revolution into a republic. Democracies eat their young.

[swarthyguy]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Whowouldathunk.

Twitter ain’t gonna help you now.

But the majority want Islamism, so be it, inshallah.

[dfwgator]

Didn’t the elections in Gaza teach them anything?

[CaptainAmiigaf]

Any thinking individual who claims “surprise”, “shock” or a sense of “disappointment” with what is surfacing in Egypt should rush to BRAINS “R” US at once.
This is ONLY the beginning..hopefully NOT of the end.

[hinckley buzzard]

So far the course of Egypt's "revolution" has been entirely predictable, and it will not end well as far as the west is concerned. The persistent lesson of history is that ideals typically will be exploited then dominated by strength.

[A Strict Constructionist]

The neo-cons that supported the revolution are getting what anyone with half-a-brain expected. Theocracy.

[dfwgator]

[naturalized]

didn’t Robespierre teach them anything?

[Sun]

“Egypt’s new Foreign Minister wants ties with Iran

Long-term enmity between states may come to end as Nabil al-Arabi offers to ‘turn over new leaf’

Egypt’s new foreign minister, Nabil al-Arabi, said Tuesday that his country wants to promote ties with Tehran and that Cairo no longer sees Iran as its enemy.
snip

No love was lost between the deposed regime of Egypt’s former president, Hosni Mubarak, and that of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who saw Mubarak as too closely connected with Western powers and Israel.
snip

Last year Egypt arrested dozens of men affiliated with the Shiite organization, who were convicted of planning terror attacks in the country. Twenty-six were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

more http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4049695,00.html

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

[dervish]

I’m shocked...

[Wuli]

The true core purpose and potential functions and aims of most “mobs in the street” are seldom residing among the majority who join the mob.

“Mobs in the street” are most often the tools of either a small core within or a small core who stand silently behind them. The members of a political mob are mostly political cannon fodder - expendable once they serve their purpose.

[Valin]

Egypt’s ‘Save The Revolution’ Movement Splits Muslim Brotherhood
http://bigpeace.com/jxenakis/2011/04/04/egypts-save-the-revolution-movement-splits-muslim-brotherhood/
John J. Xenakis
Apr 4th 2011

An estimated 100,000 protesters demanding to “Save the Revolution” demonstrated in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday, according to Ahram. The protesters have called for another rally next Friday.

There had been no large scale demonstrations ever since the armed forces emptied the square on March 9, and it had been widely assumed that the revolution had fizzled out, but Friday’s huge crowds proved that assumption wrong.

The reborn revolution fervor was triggered by a return to some of the abuses that had been common during the presidency of Hosni Mubarak, whom the January uprising forced to resign.

(Snip)