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Nariman El-Mofty / AP
The Muslim Brotherhood's presidential nominee Khairat el-Shater is seen here in a Jan. 24, 2012 file photo.
NEWS ANALYSIS
CAIRO – Few events have captured the attention of the global media like Egypt's revolution. Culminating, like an earthquake, with the departure of Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011, the world was transfixed.
Since then, Egypt has gone through a series of political aftershocks. From the rise of Islam-centered ultra-conservative political parties to deadly street riots and the missteps of the country's ruling generals, Egypt's transition (or intransigence) has been the subject of intense speculation and analysis.
Nothing, though, has piqued interest as much as the move by the Muslim Brotherhood to nominate a candidate for the country's presidency.
Political U-turn
Things have come to full boil in the past few days. And what has emerged, according to analysts and commentators, is a rupture in trust between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Egyptian people. To say the Brotherhood has lost its base of support is inaccurate, but Egyptians across the political spectrum feel a sense of disappointment to come face to face with the duplicity of politics – common the world over and now seen and practiced openly in Egypt.
The culmination of this mood came on Saturday, when the Brotherhood, long a socio-charitable and religious organization, announced that it was nominating one of its own for Egypt's top job, a move that sent shock waves through the nascent political establishment.
Muslim Brotherhood says it will run candidate for president in Egypt election
Why the shock? Well, for the past year, the Muslim Brotherhood has categorically denied it would field a presidential candidate and repeatedly has tried to assuage fears that it was seeking control of Egyptian political life.
The signs, though, were there. Shortly after Mubarak's ouster, the Brotherhood embarked on a process of "translating" its popular social support into mainstream politics. To do so, it launched a political party, called the Freedom and Justice Party, ostensibly aimed at putting a political face on a traditional image.
At the time, the Brotherhood was, at least in public, keen on showing that it was just a part of the quilt that makes up the Egyptian political fabric; it did not want to be too much in the background while at the same time it did not want to appear to be the quilt-maker.
That image was crushed on Saturday, according to analysts and commentators, who say the move has exposed the movement’s true aspirations.
Notably, the decision to nominate a president didn't happen at the Freedom and Justice Party’s headquarters – it took place at the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters. In addition, the announcement that Khairat el Shater was their presidential candidate was not made by the head of the political party (although he was present) but by the Brotherhood's leader, Dr. Mohammed el Badie.
Fueling fears
The decision by the Muslim Brotherhood to seek control of the executive branch highlights a potentially dangerous political reality that has many worried in Egypt.
Already with control of the parliament and as the majority in the constitutional convention tasked with writing a new constitution, the Brotherhood is ubiquitous in Egypt's political life. Add the presidency and they would control virtually the whole political system.
Critics say such a move would allow the Brotherhood to steamroll its conservative agenda across Egypt. They compare the monopolization of power by a single party to the Mubarak-era rule of the National Democratic Party, which also controlled all three branches of government and thousands of local councils.
Proponents say the democratic consolidation of power will allow the Brotherhood to implement change at a time when political fragmentation threatens to paralyze a country in transition. They say that with a single cohesive voice in control, Egypt could take the hard decisions needed to bring about speedy reform.
But even prominent members of the Brotherhood have expressed their disappointment in the decision to put forth a candidate. It has been described by many in the organization as the single gravest threat in its nearly 80-year history.
In particular, they suggest that the organization has set itself up for failure because if it does not bring about the desired change in Egypt, it will burden full responsibility for the failure. (Others point out, though, that if the Muslim Brotherhood can turn Egypt around, it will have cemented its place in the nation’s politics.)
Back room deal making?
Part of the concern is role of the military and the possibility that a deal was struck between the generals and the Brotherhood.
One theory suggests the Brotherhood was given the green light to nominate a candidate so long as, once in power, it directs attention away from the military, the generals and their economic interests.
On the other hand, others theorize that the Muslim Brotherhood and the ruling military council have been engaged in bitter accusations and power struggles behind closed doors. And that as a result of the mistrust brewing between the two groups, the Brotherhood was trying to force the military's hand by showing it had enough political clout to defy the ruling generals.
Others even speculated that the Muslim Brotherhood sought the approval of Washington before it nominated el-Shater as a presidential candidate. In a statement issued in Cairo, the U.S. Embassy categorically denied that Washington or Congress had been asked or sought to give any explicit or tacit approval to the Muslim Brotherhood’s move.
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Leave a Comment:
No shock here. I predicted it would happen. Arab Spring my ass.
WOW! what a shocker! Our highly educated US leaders did not forsee this,next we will help Al Quaida over -thro Syria! What would Obama do if 100,000 armed rebels stormed the whitehouse? make nice nice and give them the keys? all rebels are in the right? I agree ,no shock here
Yes,US was so shook up that they did not report the news of Muslim Brotherhood's Deputy Supreme Leader Al-Shater running for President of Egypt. WHY? This weas reported in Egypt,rest of Middle East,Europe,Russia,China- but not in US. Read http:www.egyptindependent.com/node/744031 from March 31m2012- the Military Council pardoned him first for moneylaundering,then pardoned him for the 2006 case one day later. Read Egypt Independent as long as you can then the parliament is coming after the media. One question for State/HRC and Pres.Obama- are the women and non muslims better off today than under Mubarak? Egypt doesn't have enough petroleum either- there will be shortages- although Egypt has got oil. Do you know- that there are killings between different militias in Libya and Egypt closed the border? Do you know that Turkey today charged 193 Kurds-Yurkish citizens for terrorism- one nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize- Professor,Dr. Ragip Zarakolu- and France is deporting a extreme jihadist 'imam' Yusuf Yuksel back to Turkey for incitement to kill Jews and Westerners?
Muslim Brotherhood = Camel Brotherhood. Just @!$%#, basically!
Now we now why Obama wanted Mubarak out of office... to make way for his ideological allies.
It was known here in the US, trouble is the mainstream media chose not to give the reports any credence. And those in alternative media such as FOX were laughed at and their reporting was called "ridiculous" by those same lame ass mainstream media outlets.
When will you people learn? The mainstream media is EXTREMELY biased. This means extremely twisted reporting, and in other cases, means huge stories go unreported ... whatever is required to promote and prop up any liberal POTUS or other key liberal political member.
pjam09 .. your comment is disturbingly true. "Who would have thought the most dangerous threat to US security would be our own POTUS" ... said the clueless voters who elected him.
Hannity has been saying this since day one. But what does he know, he's only on Fox. For anyone to say they didn't see this coming, they truly had their head up their a$$.
As we all now know, it is OK to lie, to further the advancement of the Muslim State!
mimi jacques Here in America we would not have known about any major global developments because for the last couple weeks all our media, MSNBC included, has been focused on is a case in Florida. As important as the case is we still need to know what else is happening in the world. You see if it is controversial, it makes for more viewers.
We have no real 'news reporting' here anymore...it is more like a lot of Op-Ed pieces put together in entertainment style to 'captivate' the audience. I have found the best source for US news is the BBC. That is sad when you get better, no-nonsense news from another country...about your own country and the rest of the world.
It's a power grab, pure and simple.
With complete control over everything, the MB will write the Constitution to its liking - including imposing Sharia Law and giving complete control to their religious leaders - which will end the brief experience with 'Democracy'. When the religious leaders get to decide who is 'acceptable' to run for political office, they will be the same as in Iran - with mere lip-service to democratic elections.
There is no such thing as 'separation of church and state' in Islam, and Islamic teachings REQUIRE the persecution and eventual destruction of all other religions. Anyone that doesn't recognize the basic conflict between Western-Style Democracy and Islam needs to remove their blinders.
MSNBC had an article on Muslim Brotherhood Presidential plans last week. This one just has more information.
Just because people can vote does not mean they have a democracy
Muslim Brotherhood wants "secular" Sharia Laws in Egypt!
Did these people give notice or take permission from the US and co before they acted/act?
Did Saudis, Pakis and UAE give advance notice on 9/11?
Look at contradictions.
The same Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaida are supporting Syrian rebels against Assad.
Saudis, oil companies, lobbyists and their gangs in the US are screaming on Syria: arm the rebels, use drones, send troops!
Who did not see this coming except the liberals. I believe the accusation that Obama OK'ed it as he is surely the most anti-jewish president in history.
The Muslim Brotherhood's presidential nominee Khairat looks very evil and that is his regular face, imagine when he gets mad. Good luck with democracy in Egypt.
mgo, such gross over-generalizations as yours have no place in civilized discourse. I would certainly count myself liberal as opposed to conservative, but I saw this coming from Day 1, too. Good grief! You know what, even those you don't like are individuals with their own thoughts, their own minds and their own conclusions. By your line of thinking, I could rest assured that you believe the Earth is only 6000 years old, dinosaur bones are the Devil's attempt to trick us, that the state of Isreal is necessary for the fulfillment of Biblical prophesies of the end-times and that you have a personal arsenal in your basement. Which may all be true, I suppose. But even if it is, I am absolutely positive that some of your fellow conservatives would not agree. Go ahead, keep up you us-vs-them over-generalizing, your demonizing and partisan b#llsh!t, but all it is going to do is send this country even further down the hole.
And this direction -- as unfortunately foreseeable as it was -- was not the goal of the majority of protestors. It was not the goal of those whose efforts our government chose to not interfere with. Those poor, dumb youths are probably much more upset about this than you are. They were fighting for true democracy and the right to determine their own fates. Unfortunately, they were never in a political position to get it done. They were used by the Brotherhood and now they will be abused by them.
Am i the ONLY Westerner that could see this coming?
Just another reason why Williard Mitt Romney (or Gingrich, Santorum, Paul, or ANY Republican that ran) is more capable of being President than Barack Hussein Obama.
only a moron didnt see this coming, so not sure how Egypt can be suprised, much less anyone else for that matter. just wondering what else our traitor in chief is mixed up in to help his fellow muslim?
being President may include making hard choices, but where is dome common sense? you would think can 1 guy be so stupid? well, being in the position Barry is in, i dont think stupid. you cant BE THAT stupid, so that leaves only the latter, he's a traitor to the security of the US.
Saddened, your accusations on my religious beliefs show how partisan you really are as well as your lack of intelligence. I may be a Christan at base, but I am no fanatic. Just because I am not a Left-Wing-nut, you make assumptions. Well you know what the saying is, don't you (When you assume you make a ..........)?
The radical Muslims are in process of taking over the entire middel east. Iraq is next, OK maybe after Afganistan. Then the real fun begins in Europe.
Amen...now Mubarak and Co. don't look nearly so bad! Manhattnron is right, it will only get worse from here. And to all the demonstrators, it's looking now like you all got a little more than you bargained for! When the muslims are firmly in control your beautiful, historical country will go the way of the other dirty, corrupt, hate filled and failed muslim countries of the world...
Every one and their mother saw this coming and muslims aren't all bad only a few of them are. Although I agree that it my not be smart to but a one religon organisation in charge of a government. Free Palestine
Somehow this isn't a big surprise. Anyone who couldn't see this coming was either a fool or had their head in the sand :(
For an interesting read, try "The Islamic Antichrist" by Joel Richardson. BIG eye opener!!!
Wait until Israel realizes that obama is about to push for Palestinian statehood. Just the thing he opposed last year.
The two state solution has been the only solution discussed by Israel and the United States since at least the 1990s. Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama have all pushed for the two state solution. In fact, this dates back to the George HW Bush Administration. Sorry navyvet98...nothing to see here...move on.
I wonder if Mrs. Clinton is as shocked as I am. Oh well, I guess the Egyptian army will be all tied up trying to hold Egypt together to do much about Israel's imminent raid into Iran. Funny how things work out.
The Muslim Brotherhood running a Presidential Candidate? Shocking?
The MB has been operating underground, in an organized fashion, waiting for their chance. They were banned by Sadat. He was killed by a radical offshoot of the MB. Mubarak has kept them underground. From the days of al Banni and Qutb, they were always very political.
The MB founded Hamas. They are so clever that they even got Israel to back Hamas over Fatah, until Israel realized how radical Hamas is.
They are an intelligent group of people. Now, the young face book generation opened the door to give the MB a chance. They are a political machine and will capitalize on this opportunity.
Eventually they will control the military and make Egypt an Islamist state. Actually it already is one, only Mubarak's secular government reigned them in.
With Mubarak and Ghadafi gone the whole of Northern Africa is now Al Queda's playground... served up on a platter by Obama and the U.N.
Get real MSNBC. One of the most well-known people in the Muslim Brotherhood was the late Sayyid Qutb, who influenced Al Qaeda. From the Wikipedia entry on Qutb:
Qutb also influenced Anwar al-Awlaki.
Are you saying NBC reports what it wishes were true, instead of what is actually true? You are correct.
NBC News regrets editing of Trayvon shooting call
"Last week Fox News did a report in which it presented "before" and "after" versions of the call. NBC had broadcast the edited exchange on its flagship "Today" morning show.
NBC News launched an investigation after the Fox report."
http://news.yahoo.com/nbc-news-regrets-editing-trayvon-shooting-call-220720073.html
Um, after some journalists did some journalism on the garbage we put out, we thought we should "investigate" why we attempt to manufacture news. Of course since we don't know how to investigate anything it means nothing.
The Muslim radicalism is gaining more and more appetite for absolut power and more rooting of their fundamentalism. This is going to deeper the war already existing between the moderates in the world (and in the arab countries, of course) and them. From some kind of cold war with constant eruptions of terrorism, they are pushing toward a more declared, concrete war against any one that do not accept they absolutist perspective and principles... Iran and the Islamic extremist movements are rubbing their hands with satisfaction... Russia and China preview their arms sells... And the world continue to talk and chat "diplomatic steps"... The arab spring open the door to the Islamic radicals everywhere and the the consequent building up of a hot summer-bomb that will explode in the permissive and "politically correct" hands of the humanity...
The nations of the world (UN?) have tied its own hands with too heavy chains of "diplomatic" considerations allowing the building up of more fundamentalist froms extremist government. The same behaviour that allow the building up of the painful National Socialism that bring the WWII... This time, in a worst form of a National Islamism.
In the meantime, the nations of the world continue their "talks" like a silly modern Chamberlain... What a sad joke!
here is the book that he lays out his ideology in.
MILESTONES BY SAYYID QUTB
Thanks! I have a PDF of it, but I didn't realize it was on the web. Definitely one for the bookmarks.
Here is a version of the book that has Chapter 8 intact as well.
I just took a poop that looked like Alah. Smelled like him too.
The Islamic regime in Iran first goal has always been the export of the 1979 Islamic Revolution to neighboring states. It has always envisioned itself as the regional head of a large Islamic empire and that scenario is coming to fruition. Pakistan is already an Islamic state and now Egypt, Libya, Iraq and next Syria will install their own versions of the Muslim Brotherhood thereby effectively becoming Islamic "satellite" states of Iran. US allies Turkey and Israel will become even more isolated and threatened in the region.
Egypt is becoming like a plane whose passengers overthrew the pilot and replaced him by one who never bothered to learn how to land.
I don't feel positive about it's future.
There will be a slow escalation to cruelty and sharia as the Mullahs compete with each other for power by proving themselves to be more muslim, and more severe on all those cultural expressions they consider haram. The path is as predictable as the 5 manditory daily prayers.
If the Egyptians are so shocked, they shouldn't vote for the Muslim Brotherhood candidate. Islam is after all the governments in the Middle East and the way they keep the public uneducated and misinformed, they will succeed sooner or later.
@ mathuin:
They have promised to the longtime subjugated people so many things... That that majority of low educated people and dominated people are ready to believe in them. As prof. Hashaviah states: "Democracy may be the best system we know but suffers from a congenital disease: It's the dictatorship of the ignorance usually rooted in the majority."
@ Charles the Hammerhead" ...one who never bothered to learn how to land.": In Allah (and the Shariah) they trust... But the wide world can't trust in THEM!
This doesn't affect "us" at all...
The only nation that need be concerned is Israel, and who cares about them?
@ Thomas A Paine II
You're so wrong my friend...
It affects us in the sense that we provide military aid to them, and they could end up becoming a rogue nation. On March 23 of this year, $1.3 billion of military aid to Egypt was restored. To see the effect on us, check out this NY Times article about it
Lot of chicken little posts here. While it is no surprise the Muslim Brotherhood is fielding a candidate in Egypt, nobody can predict the future and say if he will win or lose or what the result will be if either happens. Furthermore it's up to the Egyptians to pick their own leaders so I don't see how the US has much say in it. I hope no one is suggestion the US should interfere with elections in Egypt.
Apparently the concensus is that we should have interfered in the protests... like, say, Saudi Arabia did in Bahrain. I keep seeing Obama's name popping up, like he ousted Mubarak himself...
The truth is that this administration has been almost completely paralyzed by the Arab Spring. Much less an active player, it has dug in its heels and refused to act at almost every opportunity. The Libya intervention certainly wouldn't have happened if France and Britain hadn't taken the lead.
I for one couldn't care less if Egypt gets an Islamist president. Turkey has one, and it's hardly a playground for Al-quaida.
"CHILDREN SEEKING WORLD PEACE" (Short Film Script)
Opening Scene;
We see the Outside of the United Nations Building next we see a man dressed in a suite carrying a brief case walking into the building he approaches the Desk of the Chairman of the United Nations, pulls out a very large manila envelope and hands it to the Chairman. The Chairman opens the envelope, reads the paper work and scratches his head, looks up at the Special Carrier with a bewildered look on his face and says; Wow this is an Extremely Unusual Request and it comes from very unusual sources this is a First for me.
Carrier
What do you mean unusual request, who sent the letter ?
Chairman
Did you notice the Post Marks on this letter ?
Carrier
Yes I did, and it also has so many different kinds of stamps on it from around the World.
I have never seen so many Stamps on one envelope in my life, so who is it from and what are they want ?
Chairman
It appears that they are following up on an idea that originated from a Film Script Writer in America who came up with an Idea of writing a short Film Script he Calls "Children Seeking World Peace" The writer posted it on line and some of the Country Leaders around the World liked the idea so that they implemented it.
Carrier
Implement what ?
Chairman
Every Country in the World picked two Young Students from one of their schools a boy and a girl to represent their Country and are asking for a "SPECIAL UNITED NATION'S MEETING" that will be attended by all of the Leaders in the World but this is the Catch.
The adults are not to speak at this meeting, only the Children will be allowed to speak at this Special meeting called "CHILDREN SEEKING WORLD PEACE"
Carrier
Wow, I see what you mean when you said an unusual request and that is comes from an unusual source you were right about that.
Chairman
There's more this request gets even more stranger they are requesting that we install a large garden area next to the United Nation Building before this meeting takes place that we don't plant anything in the garden area just leave it bare dirt, there are to be small signs placed every two feet next to the rows in this garden area with the names of each Country in the World next to each one of these signs there will also be a watering can containing water.
Carrier
Do you think that the Board will consider this bizarr & unusual request ?
Chairman
Yes I do after all these are the Children of the World, the next Generation seeking the opportunity for them to be part of the Peace Process from their Generation and we should give them the opportunity to do so.
Scene Two;
We see the inside of the United Nations building where many young children are standing paired off one boy and one girl facing all of the Adult Leaders from around the World these Children are from all walks of life all different nationalities and all dressed differently.
Every Girl is holding a small pot containing a different flower in it in one hand and a small shovel in their other hand.
Each Boy is holding a small pot containing a different kind of plant in one hand and a small shovel in his other hand.
(all of these flowers and plants are beautiful and very colorful)
Every Boy & Girl from their Country are wearing Name tags with their Countries names on the tags. The Children are just standing there in silence.
The inside of this building is silent at first then we hear whispers coming from the Adult Leaders, what is this all about, what do they want, this is strange.
Next we see a girl step forward from the row of children following behind her is another girl and a boy they are all three standing there for a minute and the room gets silent.
Then the boy speaks,
I have been chosen to speak on behalf of all of the Children in this room. We are standing here before all of you representing the Worlds Next Generation, Your Worlds Next Generation. We only have a few words to say to all of you here today.
All of us had several things that we wanted to say to all of you today but we all decided that words are not enough without all of Our WORLD LEADERS making a Solid Commitment to end all Wars in Our World Today ! ! !
So, we only have three words to say to all of you here today... " PLEASE JUST STOP"
(one of the girls standing next to this young boy translates this message in all languages)
The three young children stand there for a minute in silence then one of the two girls step forward she says, we only have one more request to ask from all of you in this building today, please follow us to the garden area located just outside this building.
(the other girl translates this request in all languages)
The other children in the building follow the three children exiting the building followed by the Adults.
Third Scene;
We see all of the children lined up still holding their flowers and plants in one hand and their shovels in their other hand they are paired off one boy and one girl standing along side of the garden rows facing their Countries signs that are placed in two foot sections of their Special Garden.
(we see all of the Adult Leaders standing around this garden in groups whispering to each other we can't make out what they are saying to each other but they have a confused look on their faces)
Next the same Girl that spoke earlier in the building is holding a flower in one hand and a small shovel in her other hand says, I would like all of the Adult Leaders from their Countries to stand in front of their Countries signs facing each of us. (translated by the girl standing next to this girl)
The Adult Leaders line up in front of their Countries garden signs facing these children then every child bends down at the same time and digs a small hole in the ground in their two foot section of this Special Garden. (each two foot garden section now has two small holes dug in them and everyone is silent)
Next we see the same girl that spoke earlier stand up after digging her hole in the garden she hands her Adult Counter Part Leader her Potted Flower and says, each one of these Flowers that all of us has brought here today Represent WORLD PEACE for Our Future.
she continues..
All of the Children Around the World requested this SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS MEETING to beg all of the Leaders of Our world to help us Plant our Flowers here today to end all Wars in our World Immediately and all of the Plants that the Boys brought here today represent Commitment To Do So.
(translated again by the girl standing next to her)
Next we see the Boy that spoke earlier at the meeting hand his Adult Counter Part his potted plant then the Girl that is speaking looks over at all of the other Children that are still standing next to their garden and she nodes her head.
Then, All of the Children say the words together, in their own languages in a loud & begging tone. "PLEASE JUST STOP"
Next, We see all of the Children reach in their pockets, pull out a small bag and pour out a few of seeds into each of their Adult Counter Parts hands.
The Girl speaker then says,
we are giving all of you our seeds to take home with you so you can plant them in your gardens as a reminder of your Commitment all of you made here today to; END ALL WARS In Our World IMMEDIATELY..THESE SEEDS ALSO REPRESENT FORGIVENESS for without forgiveness there can be no PEACE, so please pass these seeds on to your transgressor so the Peace Process can begin. (translated by the girl standing next to her)
Last Scene
We see all of the Adult Leaders bent down next to the Children planting the Children's Flowers & Plants together in their "Special World Peace Garden" Located in Front Of the "UNITED NATIONS BUILDING"
Fade Out..
Written by, Michael V. Caldwell, Always Striving To Be Part Of The Solution, Using Respect & Common Sense As My Guidelines To Follow At All Times...
Respectfully,Thank all of You, for taking the time to read this IMPORTANT & Very Badly Needed message.
"DREAM BIG DO BIG"
________________________________________________________________________________________
All Countries Have A Choice Of What Kind Of Road They Build Together & What Kind Of Road They Build Will Determine Where That Road Takes Them.
"ROAD TO PEACE" (film short story)
Opening Scene: (filmed in black & white, silent film)
We see an old Soldier walking down a dirt road with a machine gun under his arm
and carrying his young son on his shoulders.
The young boy and his father are dressed in their combat clothing and the boy
also has a machine gun gun tucked under his arm, suddenly they stop.
(our camera pans to a person sitting on a large rock on the side of the road)
We see the back of this person only, the person is wearing a black hooded robe
with their hood raised up.
(we pan back to the old soldier and his son)
The old soldier places his son on the road then pushes him in the direction
of the hooded stranger.
The young boy walks cautiously up to the stranger with his gun drawn
upwards as he gets closer we notice the person is small in stature then the boy
points
the gun at the back of the strangers head.
The stranger turns around slowly then we see it is a young girl, the girl
is the same age as the boy.
The young girl places a daisy in the barrel of the boy's gun.
(at that instant our film changes to color and remains in color)
Next, we see they young boy standing there with a blank look on his face he
then drops the gun on the ground, the gun vanishes and where the gun was we see
three books there instead.
The boy picks up the books curiously, then turns and looks in the direction
where his father was with an astonishment look.
(we show a close-up on boys face then we pan our camera to the father)
The boy's father is now standing there dressed in a white shirt and slacks and
holding sets of plans tucked under his arm in the place of a gun.
(we pan back to boy and girl)
We see the boy standing there dressed in the same attire as his father, with
three books tucked under his arm in place of his gun staring at the girl that
is still sitting on the rock, the girl has long curly brown hair and is now
wearing white clothing, she also has three books sitting next to her.
Closing Scene:
We see the backs of all three of them walking down the road towards the setting
sun, the boy and the girl are holding hands both of them carrying three books
tucked under their arms.
The father has three sets of building plans tucked under his arm and is walking
with his head up high..
Fade Out End...Or Beginning Of A Brighter Badly Needed Future For Our World.
How many more times do we have to fast forward thru this stuff? Once was enough. You have had your 10 minutes of fame.
So long story short , what's your point? The only people who are going to read all that is you, kingofwhatever .
Muslim Brotherhood shocks Egypt with presidential run. Quick, Everybody act surprised!!!
It would be helpful if MSNBC listed the leading candidates at the time of the Muslim Brotherhood's decision. I understand that the leading candidates were a Mubarak crony and a Salafi. For those who are not familiar with either the Salafis or the Muslim Brotherhood, I think a little education is in order; I think those who favor the West would much prefer the Muslim Brotherhood. Moreover, the chances of a Mubarak crony getting elected, even if supported by the military, are nil.
Those who complaint about the Muslim Brotherhood's decision should realize that it's a new day in the Middle East, or at least in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. An overwhelming majority of Egyptians do not want the $1.3 billion of American aid in the form of dumbed-downed armaments precisely because of the potential loss of "sovereignty." They do not want American influence, which has meant dictators and despots who did not share either their aspirations or their goals. They just want to get along with their lives. If America is phobic about Islam, that's America's problem - not theirs.
Saw this coming miles away.
Some of you see the word 'Muslim' and automatically assume the characature that many Americans have toward Islam. This article from the highly respecgted FOREIGN AFFAIRS magazine is worth your time to read.
The Moderate Muslim Brotherhood
The Muslim Brotherhood is the world's oldest, largest, andmost influential Islamist organization. It is also the most controversial, condemned by both conventional opinion in the West and radical opinion in the
Middle East. American commentators have called the Muslim Brothers"radical Islamists" and "a vital component of the enemy's assault force ... deeply hostile to the United States." Al Qaeda's Aymanl-Zawahiri sneers at them for "lur[ing] thousands of young Muslim men into lines for elections ... instead of into the lines of jihad."
Jihadists loathe the Muslim Brotherhood (known in Arabic as al-Ikhwan al-Muslimeen) for rejecting global jihad and embracing democracy. These positions seem to make them moderates, the very thing the United States,
short on allies in the Muslim world, seeks. But the Ikhwan also assails U.S. foreign policy, especially Washington's support for Israel, and questions linger about its actual commitment to the democratic process.
Over the past year, we have met with dozens of Brotherhood leaders and activists from Egypt, France, Jordan, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom. In long and sometimes heated discussions, we explored the
Brotherhood's stance on democracy and jihad, Israel and Iraq, the United States, and what sort of society the group seeks to create. The Brotherhood is a collection of national groups with differing outlooks, and the various factions disagree about how best to advance its mission. But all reject global jihad while embracing elections and other features of democracy. There is also a current within the Brotherhood willing to engage with the United States. In the past several decades, this current -- along with the realities of practical
politics -- has pushed much of the Brotherhood toward moderation.
U.S. policymaking has been handicapped by Washington's tendency to see the Muslim Brotherhood -- and the Islamist movement as a whole -- as a monolith. Policymakers should instead analyze each national and local
group independently and seek out those that are open to engagement. In the anxious and often fruitless search for Muslim moderates, policymakers should recognize that the Muslim Brotherhood presents a notable opportunity.
Moderate Muslim Brotherhood? Let us keep dreaming.
The Muslim Brotherhood advocate imposing Islamic law (Sharia), which is fundamentally incompatible with democracy. For example, under Islamic law, a non-Muslim whose house is robbed by a Muslim, with no Muslim witnesses, is out of luck because the Sharia specifies that a non-Muslim cannot testify against a Muslim in a court of law. So the democratic ideal of equality before the law does not exist in the Sharia. This is just one small example of many. The Sharia also requires that non-Muslims pay a poll tax (jizya) in return for being "protected", and further specifies that the payment be done in a humiliating and degrading way. This is seventh-century law, and since it is held to comply with the word of God, for once and for all time, it is for all practical purposes immutable. It is a one-way ticket to the seventh century.
Some "highly respected" publications call this "moderate", but that's not what I would call it. I suppose it could be considered moderate compared to the Salafi, but that's like saying a mere kook is moderate compared to a stark, raving loon.
Anyone who grew up in a free country should know that religion is actually quite mutable. Just because some book suggests that democracy cannot exist under a set of religious scriptures doesn't mean squat.
Turkey's AK party seems to have no trouble working within the bounds of a democratic, free society, and it's Islamic. No reason why it can't happen elsewhere.
Turkey's leader is a Muslim, but Turkey itself is not under Islamic law (Sharia). These are two different concepts. The Muslim Brotherhood is advocating Islamic law. Muslims themselves may be flexible and have a variety of different views of Islam, but Islamic law itself is not "quite mutable" as you claim at all.
Sure it is. For example, some people interpret Sharia law to mean that women have to be treated like delicate pets, never to be left unsupervised in public. Other interpretations allow that this is bunk and that women should have the same rights as men.
Just like any set of moral tenets, whether derived from a religious directive or philosophy, it can usually be twisted to the ends of someone who wants to impose unreasonable rules upon others, but is benign on its own. Whether they have sharia or not, so long as their constitution sets the correct framework for elections, the Egyptian people can decide what version of Sharia they want.
"History, I believe has no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose." - Thomas Jefferson to Baron Von Humboldt - 1813
Religious leaders are merely men,and when they subject themselves to the such worldly vices as the trappings of political power they best illustrate this. When a religious leader traverses their faith into the world of politics they lose piety, humility ultimately succumbing to power and effectively serve no religious purpose. Look at Muslim elitists in power in Iran. They become the dictator they replace.
No surprise here. People ask why Washington didn't think of this. Maybe they did. Maybe this is where Obama's Muslim background comes into play.
Is anyone really surprised by this? I think not. I remember it being mentioned while the changing of the guard was taking place.
The only people who are surprised are liberals .Even though they're waaaaay smarter than everyone else .
The devil you know is better than the devil you do not know. The world will soon have Egyptian Khomeini. All the Egyptian women will soon cover their hair and wear the black overalls against their will. Hopefully they will still be educated.
Oblunder is a dunderhead the likes of which the world has never seen!
Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is not a bad thing. It will stand up for Palestinian right.
Yeah, I don't really think that's a big concern, here.
Palestinians' problems don't really stem from a lack of support from its neighbors. That's a pretty poor standard.