The Muslim Brotherhood Mobilizes
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has decided to field candidates for more than half of the nation’s parliamentary seats, up from 45%, with its candidates benefiting from the party’s high level of organization in comparison to all other organizations.
Although the group intended to play a less-than-dominant role in the first post-Mubarak government, this decision will make it the deal-maker in the new government and the dominant force in drafting the nation’s first civilian constitution.
The decision is not going unnoticed by other political factions — and even by the shrewder elements of the Brotherhood, who want to avoid pitting themselves against the society in its first free elections. An article in the leading Egyptian paper Al-Ahram, translated below, reveals that all of the non-Islamist factions are organizing to counter the massive power wielded by the Brotherhood.
Ideally, the Brotherhood aims to control at least 1/3 of the seats in the parliament — giving it veto power to reject agenda items out of line with its ideological platform.
Islamist party Gamaa Islamiya, formerly a violent terrorist organization whose leaders contributed to the development of al-Qaeda, is throwing its weight behind the Brotherhood. Strategically, the Gamaa can present itself as an alternative to the Brotherhood in the next election; in the meantime, however, its votes go to strengthening religious legislation and drafting the new constitution.
The tension created by the decision shows rifts in the Muslim Brotherhood itself. Its youth wing is less doctrinal and more interested in free and fair elections. By placing high-level Brotherhood officials in the dominant positions of the new political party, and violating internal laws about participation of members in the group’s decision-making process, the Brotherhood is showing that it isn’t always so committed to playing by the rules.
Still other members are worried that the group may become too powerful too fast, leaving it unable to seize total power and poorly positioned to guide Egypt.
Although the group promises to give the party more freedom the next time around, to the average Egyptian, the Brotherhood’s moves are coming off more and more like a naked power grab. My translation follows on the next page.
[Note: the article uses the term “the organization” for the Muslim Brotherhood, and “the party” for the Freedom and Justice Party. To make it easier for the reader, references to “the organization” have been changed to “the Brotherhood.”]
All of this is meaningless. Everything depends on who the Army DECIDES to support. If the Muslim Brotherhood gets a lot of support and manages to also get the support of the Army, then Egypt is finished. It will turn into another Iran. It is also amusing that, after Mubarak was overthrown, all of these western “analysts,” Obama, and these idiotic young people in Egypt actually thought democracy was going to take over in that country. So, how’s that “democracy” working out for them now? The Army is STILL in charge and they have absolutely no intention of handing over power to anyone. So if the Army decides to give power to the Muslim Brotherhood, it will happen. If they don’t, then the army will support some other dictator who will take over and make sure the Army is well taken care of. Either way, Egypt loses.
Calm down – the army’s still in charge cuz they haven’t had the elections yet.
A new gov’t does not depend on who the army will support. What is the deal breaker is if the army will abide by the elections and let them be honest. Once the elections are held the army has no power unless they choose to stage a coup or other wise ignore law in small packages. The army cannot do this once a new president and parliament are in place without wrecking Egypt and turning it back into a dictatorship.
As far as how the democracy’s working out for them: considering the enormous problems they face, not bad – so far so good. Why be a cynic? If something bad happens wait for it, don’t predict something you obviously know nothing about.
That’s called projection and wishful thinking and it tells us a whole hell of a lot more about you than anything happening in Egypt.
Our family friends who immigrated to the states from Egypt tell us that generally the Egyptian people like the army. So don’t be too sure that your expectations will be rewarded. I am inclined to think that the MB will be the future. Unfortunately, the young, while technically savvy, are politically naive. Sad but true.
The Army isn’t as strong as you think, nor immune to the pressures of the street. many of the liberal and left are looking at the sectarian protest down in Qena to get rid of the appointed Christian Governor as a show of power by the MB and affiliates to get rid of non Islamic government members.
Using the street, of course, to legitimize it’s demands under the cover of popular discontent. The Army caved and that is the reason, I believe, that you now have the MB acting like they can get 50% or more of the seats they contest. They plan to contest 2/3 of the seats (that is something close to 300+ districts/seats) and win 50% that will give them the 30% or greater in Parliament. They need 35% to be a true veto proof minority.
I understand from this article:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/11448/Egypt/Politics-/A-National-Council-to-protect-Egypt-revolution-exp.aspx
That the non-Islamist groups are planning to have another “national dialogue”, this time planned and organized by themselves and without, apparently, the participation of the MB (who is not mentioned by name; fear is already keeping people silent). The purpose is to “protect the revolution” and, from what I read, it is to protect it from Islamists.
However, can’t be sure who is participating as it seem these are the “liberal left”, “left union” and “socialists” led by the Wafd-Al Ghad old liberal parties that are trying to revitalize. There are few numbers to suggest that they enjoyed any great increase in numbers from the revolutionary youth. I don’t see Naquib Sarawis Free Egypt Party or El Baradei’s NAC specifically listed as organizers or attendees.
This article:
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/424904
Suggests that the Brotherhood and the Leftist Union party Taggammu have had a serious falling out.
While here:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/11517/Egypt/Politics-/ElBaradei-says-Egypt-should-follow-the-German-mode.aspx
El Baradei is still trying to get the Army to budge on having a national committee selected from all the districts draw up a constitution in advance complete with a list of 20 (20!) incontestable rights. Based on the German model so there is likely to be a lot of socialist nonsense about right to healthcare and work, etc, etc, etc along with basic rights.
I think this points to the major concern that the Islamists will get control of parliament and the constitutional process to change the revolution into an Islamic revolution and the government to be more Islamic than the youth who went into the square had wanted or ever imagined it to be. If the MB are elected as a major body through popular support, the young people will be hard pressed to get any support for another soft revolution and will find themselves societal, if not legal, outcasts.
I understand that the young people are seriously distrusting of all of these old men’s parties and a large body of them have refused to join the parties. instead, they are working below the radar as adjunct groups trying to educate people about democracy, rights and constitutional law among other things. They insist that these organizations will support appropriate candidates when they appear.
It is difficult to understand whether this is an excellent way of doing grass roots organization (like the tea party) or if this is shooting themselves in the foot.
I think we’re all waiting for the same question to be answered as to how Islamic is the population of Egypt.
Here’s the first report on the conference. 4000 attend when 2500 were expected. There is considerable amount of controversy over what certain key speakers said including a judge and an interim government appointee.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/11576.aspx
“The protesters started to chant their demands right after Minister of Local Governance Mohsen Al-Nomani took to the podium to give a speech. The angry attendees, who also chanted against new legislation criminalising sit-ins and strikes, interrupted Al-Nomani three times.
“No military trials for civilians!”, “We want our detained brothers!” and “The legitimacy belongs to the revolution and the people!” were among the slogans that echoed at the Cairo International Conference Centre.
Despite recurrent interruptions, Al-Nomani finished his speech, during which he underlined that the interim government’s role is to ensure a smooth transition of power.
On the other hand, Tahani Al-Gebali, the first Egyptian female judge, gave speech that touched on several sensitive and controversial issues, and which drew sharp criticism against her on Twitter.
She stressed that Islamic Sharia is the only legitimate jurisprudence, which contradicts with the principles of liberals and Copts who want the nation to be civic and not religious based.”
That had people P.O.’d with lots of bold lettering and curse words.
She stressed that Islamic Sharia is the only legitimate jurisprudence…
She might as well have stressed that the Dark Ages is the only legitimate period in the history of humankind.
Sharia is designed so that a small cadre of a self-designated ruling class absolutely controls every aspect of others’ behavior.
Anyone who opts for such a system of “jurisprudence” is simply stupid.
The Egyptians better look at Gaza and ask themselves if they want to live like that, by setting themselves against the West.
The Egyptians already have plenty of Islam in their lives – why they would want even more is something no one in the West can fathom and one can only hope their vote will reject the concept.
If they don’t, they’ll strangle themselves.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Egypt’s new constitution resembled Israel’s, half Torah and half common law.
Baradei is worried about that constitution and the Muslim Brotherhood helping to form it after they win seats in parliament – that’s why he wants a new constitution drawn up before the elections.
Pretty soon, the not so brotherly Brotherhood will be screwing up fair and reasonable governance in Egypt in exactly the same fashion that Hezbollah has achieved that goal in Lebanon.
Copts/Christians, reasonable people who don’t want to dress in Black Bug Suits and/or be felt up on the streets by the Morality Police (as is customary in Iran and goes on in Saudi Arabia) and every forward thinking, enlightened Egyptian, watch out.
El Baradei amply demonstrated what a weak, self-interested idiot he is as completely ineffectual head of the IAEA.
Ismail Sulaiman, S=secretary of the Tagammo [Unionist] Party, confirmed that the positions of the Muslim Brotherhood are always contradictory and arouse suspicion, perplexity, and questioning.
Mr. Bassiouni…stressed that the statements of the Muslim Brotherhood about 50% political participation are only about establishing a religious state that is inconsistent with the ideals of the revolution and encouraging young people to participate in political life. It closes the path for young people to participate in political life…They are trying to exploit religion for the realization of political gain.
Some people in Egypt have it right.
Our god-given son, legally immigrated to America from Egypt (He is not our true adopted son – but God placed him in our lives)… He is a COPTIC CHRISTIAN believer. As a COPTIC CHRISTIAN believer – their ONLY Crime is that they are not muslim and they have chosen the way of the TRUE GOD through the Bible rather than ISLAM. Because of this – Egypt treats them as criminals. The MUSLIMS within Egypt will LIE and spread propaganda baswed on false witnesses and LIES, against all Christian Believers and the Coptic Churches to give them as muslims the justifications to either ‘kill’ Coptic Christian Believers within Egypt, or destroy their homes, or destroy their churches by bombing them, or killing the Coptic Christian Believers as they come out of the doors of their Coptic Churches… INNOCENT PEOPLE, harming no one, living quietly – and yet are treated as CRIMINALS – for the CRIME of not being muslim… It is a known fact within Egypt that if you are a young woman between ages of 12 to 30 years old, and you are a Christian Believer and you are a virgin… that the EGYPT POLICE will allow for this girl to be abducted/kidnapped, gang raped (often by the own EGYTIAN POLICE) tortured, and then killed – all for the belief that by doing so to a young virgin CHRISTIAN believer that this will send her straight to HELL by the muslims doing this to such a girl.
Three weeks ago the MUSLIMS in northern Egypt – made up a false LIE (as usual) that Christians had killed one of their muslim people – so this gave them the right for REVENGE and a group of muslims came to this city and destroyed 9 Egyptian homes in the Christian community in this village. But the LIE was that the Christian Believers killed one of the muslim people – but the TRUTH was that a fellow MUSLIM actually killed one of their own MUSLIM believers but it was BLAMED by a LIE and by a FALSE WITNESS against the Christian community believers in Egypt – so that the MUSLIMS then had justification according to their believing these LIES and FALSE WITNESSES to attack the Christian community in destroying their homes… The Egyptian police were amongst them as they destroyed 9 innocent peoples homes… Egypt is a nation of lawlessness and the muslim brotherhood will make it even worst for Christian Believers within Egypt…
Please watch this TRUE VIDEO while the muslims with the police in the midst of this VIOLENT CROWD of hate destroy the Christian Believers HOUSES in this Christian community. This is what happens in Egypt…
It is NOT THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS whom attack muslims within Egypt – it is MUSLIMS whom attack Christian Believers, their homes, their lives, and their churches – simply for being a ‘christian believer’ and not wanting to be a muslim….
Please see for yourself the TRUTH inside of Egypt with the hate and violence that comes from muslims…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuGCdLowDDg&feature=player_embedded
Panic In, On, Above, and Below America’s Streets
Newswires are awash in panic stories since President Obama killed Osama bin Laden with the assistance of our Navy SEALs, more awash than before he killed OBL.
As Drudge reported on Monday from various sources:
New York’s Senator Chuckie Schumer, who is always calling for something as long as there’s a photo op possible, is “calling for the creation of an Amtrak no ride list. That would take the secure flight program and apply it to Amtrak trains.” (CBS.com) Subways, the LIRR, Metro North are presumably safe enough for Chuckie.
“Two terrifying rail security breaches occurred within hours of each other in [New York] city yesterday–including one at the World Trade Center, where a man slipped into the PATH tunnel and walked all the way to Jersey before saying he had left a bomb in the tunnel.” (New York Post)
Bronx streets were blocked off twice last weekend while the NYPD investigated a parked SUV and another potential ”bomb threat.” (Daily News)
Lest the reader think threats to America are confined to the mean seats on Amtrack and the meaner streets of NYC, three other incidents were reported including “a threatening note” left behind in a Detroit bathroom, diverted three separate aircraft, a Dallas train station was evacuated after a man asked for help carrying parcels, four people were arrested for videotaping a TSA pat-down line in Denver, and TSA agents tried to sniff out explosives in a baby’s diaper at Kansas City International.
Anyone else get the feeling we’re overdoing security? Or, are we? May God forbid we return to the pre-9/11 lax security days but are we over-securing our country and our people and making America an intolerable place in which to live, work, and travel?
More importantly, how long does the government expect us to live, work, and travel under these conditions? If it’s for the duration as they used to say during World War Two, if so, how long is the duration? For as long as Islam threatens and attacks us? If that’s the case, our children, grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren may have to adapt to a system which is evolving into something little different than the old U.S.S.R. and Hitler’s brownshirts imposed on their citizenry.
As burdensome and depressing as that scenario is, there’s a more burdensome and depressing alternative, an alternative which involves America finally announcing to bloodthirsty terrorists of every stripe that we have had enough. In conjunction with our Western allies who would most probably not concur, we further announce we plan to win that war which our current president pretends does not exist, the worldwide War on Terrorism.
The costs of winning would be stupendous. The costs of losing could be stupefying.
This is where the alternative becomes most burdensome and depressing on Americans . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=4406)