Muslim Brotherhood asserts its strength in Egypt with challenges to military

The Washington Post ^ | March 25, 2012 | Leila Fadel

[MinorityRepublican]

CAIRO — As Egypt’s ruling generals near the end of their formal reign, the country’s main Islamist party is asserting increasing authority over the political system and openly confronting the powerful military.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s growing influence came into sharp focus Sunday as its political wing and other Islamists established a dominant role in the 100-member body chosen by the parliament to write the country’s new, post-revolutionary constitution. Liberals and leftists vowed to boycott the assembly, and at least eight withdrew from it, accusing the Islamist parties of taking over the process.

The move came just days after the Brotherhood said it was considering putting forth a presidential candidate from its ranks, something it had promised not to do.

The rift between the once-underground group and the military burst into the open this weekend, with the Brotherhood issuing a scathing statement calling the military-appointed government a failure and raising concern over the credibility of the upcoming presidential election. The military council fired back Sunday, condemning the Brotherhood for “doubting” the institution and making “fabricated” allegations.

The Brotherhood and its political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, were initially hesitant to challenge the military after the revolt that ousted President Hosni Mubarak last year. But the Islamist movement became emboldened after winning nearly half the seats in parliament in elections that ended in February.

Now, its leaders are going so far as to oppose the generals’ private requests for immunity from prosecution for accusations of killings and mistakes committed during Egypt’s political transition, something they were open to just two months ago. They are demanding the dissolution of the military-appointed government of Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri.

[Plumberman27]

I still see this lady while i was at the doctors office getting a check up on the day Egypt fell telling everyone in the office, “Oh it is so wonderful those people will now have democracy”. “Those people will now have democracy, it's so wonderful”. I asked her if she knew if Egypt had gotten it's 6 billion from us yet that year and she replied, “that doesn't matter, they have democracy and .....on she went.ding, ding, ding..”I could only say, I will see you here a year and we will see how it goes but can bet a grand the Moslems take over and in time will kill a few million just for the sport of it. Those peoples are savages.She looked shocked by my statements but would not take my bet. I give them 6 months till the great purge occurs of anyone but a Moslem being allowed in the country. They already kill Christians for sport.

[meatloaf]

I’m wondering if the military is going to step aside or will they start jailing the ring leaders and start a crackdown. I wouldn’t mind seeing the military weeding out the most active members of the Muslim Brotherhood. I figure between Libya, Syria and Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has its hands full.

[GeronL]

didn’t Obama announce $1.5 billion for the MB?

Shouldn’t it be illegal to fund foreign political organizations?

[b4its2late]

The Arab Spring is sprouting!

[Eleutheria5]

Ghaza should annex Egypt.

[1010RD]

Look what Obama’s done to America and the world in four short years.

[MichaelCorleone]

I appreciate the sentiments, but I think it’s more accurate to see how obama’s been ALLOWED to wreck the country and the world.

Congress, the Supremes, and the msm all aided and abetted the destruction. FOX and syndicated talk radio also let us down in a big way.

[hal ogen]

Wow! I am so impressed over just what the WTF foreign policy of nobama and clintoon is achieving. It should interesting to see the Brotherhood kill Coptic Christians and proceed to kill other moozlums. What fun. What a great civilization.

[ripley]

“I see this lady while at the doctor’s office...”

Would it have been polite to ask her if she got thrills up her leg just like that brilliant Proressive genius commentator on MSNBC?

Just asking.