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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:
I just took a poop that looked like Alah. Smelled like him too.
DUDE.....
you Christian Radicals are evil. You go around strapping bombs to your hips, killing innocent people. You teach the Distruction of Israel, and video tape beheadin.... wate a minute.... that the Muslims. OK.... WAHTS GOING ON...... AINT THEY THE "RELIGON OF PEACE?"
absolutely love your name.....OMG don't get near Obama....with that allergy you'll end up in ICU.
If this country elects one of these pigs as their pres they are in a lot of trouble.
They'd look like Iran, were Church and State are one: Bye-bye Freedom
I thought Sunnis took over Egypt. But I hear they are buddying up to Iran to profit off of breaking the embargo. Why would they join Shiites? Wouldn't this kill the aid money they get from us? And also shut them off from the I M F ?
Until they have a fully functioning civil government and send the military back to their barracks, I'd assume that most of their governments' actions are a result of knee-jerk geopolitical hedging and reactions to protests on the streets. Give it some time before predicting where their foreign policy is headed.
Although, this is just a thought, it is possible their goals are motivated by factors beyond primitive tribalism (maybe).
The Exodus did not take place in the ,area, that is traditionally, ascribed to
it. The Biblical Scriptures states precisely, that Mt Sinai, is in Arabia.
When Moses ,fled from Egypt ,he went to Midian, where Sinai is located. The
biblical scriptures ,gives a account ,of how, Moses fled to Midian , and lived
there for 40 years , married ,had and raised, two sons. History tells us that
the south part of the Sinai Peninsula was, at the time of Moses, was under
control by the Egyptians . It was here that he first, encountered, YHVH, in the flaming bush.
Exodus 3:1
"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and
he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of
YHVH, [even] to Horeb
Midian is in the Arabian Peninsula, not the Sinai Peninsula.
Midian
From Wikipedia
"Midian
Madyan (Arabic), or Madiam (Greek for a Midianite) is
a geographical place and a people mentioned in the Bible and in the Qur'an. It
is believed to be in northwest Arabia on the east shore of the Gulf of Aqaba[1]
and the northern Red Sea.[2] Some scholars say it was not a geographical area but a league of tribes"
Exodus 13:18
"But YHVH led the people about, [through] the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Yisrayl went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
The "Wilderness of the Red Sea" is most likely referring to the wilderness which is between the two arms or the gulfs of the Red Sea, called the Sinai Peninsula.
Deuteronomy 1:2
"([There are] eleven days' [journey] from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)"
The Arabian peninsula route would naturally go through Mt. Seir if they went
north from Mt. Sinai till they hit the Mountains of Seir, then traveled
northwest to Kadesh Bamea.
Kadesh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Kadesh also known as Kadesh-Barnea , was a place in the south of Ancient Yisrayl. The name "Kodesh" means holy. The name "Barnea" may mean desert of wandering.
It was an important site in Yisraylite history.[1] Miriam, the sister of Moses,
died there (Nu. 20:1), and Moses disobediently struck the rock that brought
forth water at this location (Nu. 20:11).
Moses subsequently sent envoys to the King of Edom from Kadesh (Numbers 20:14), asking for permission to let the Yisraylites pass through his terrain. The Edomite king denied this request.
Since 1905 modern Ain el-Qudeirat in the Wadi el-Ain of the northern Sinai has been widely accepted as the location of biblical Kadesh Barnea. Several Iron Age fortresses have been excavated there. the oldest, a small, elliptical structure dates to the tenth century B.C. but was evidently abandoned for some time after the first fort's destruction. A second fort constructed during the eighth century B.C. (probably during the reign of Uzziah) was destroyed during the seventh century B.C., most likely during Manasseh's reign. Significantly, two ostraca engraved in Hebrew have been recovered there, suggesting the Yisraylites did indeed occupy this site.[2]
Kadesh-Barnea is 11 days march by way of Mt Seir from Horab."
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
"Kadesh is usually identified with Ain-el-Weibeh, which lies in the Arabah,
about 10 miles north of the place in which Mount Hor abuts on that valley, (or with Ain-Gadis in Jebel Magrah)"
Numbers 13:26
"And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Yisrayl, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land."
Desert of Paran
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"The Desert of Paran in Arabia or Wilderness of Paran (Hebrew Midbar Par'an; Douay-Rheims: Pharan), is quite likely the place where the Yisraylites spent part of their 40 years of wandering. King David spent some time in the
wilderness of Paran after Samuel died (I Samuel, 25:1). It is also the place
where Abraham's wife Hagar and his first son Ishmael were taken (Genesis 21) and it features in the opening lines of the Book of Deuteronomy."
Galatians 4:24,25
"Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children."
Arabian Peninsula
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: ; šibh al-jaz&;Arab), Arabia,
Arabistan,[1] and the Arabian subcontinent[2] is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia. The area is an important part of the Middle East and plays a critically important geopolitical role because of its vast reserves of oil and natural gas.
Arabia Petraea - Definition
WordIQ.com
The Arabian Peninsula is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia.
The coastal limits of the peninsula are: on the southwest the Red Sea and Gulf
of Aqaba; on the southeast the Arabian Sea; and on the northeast the Gulf of
Oman and the Persian Gulf. Politically, the Arabian peninsula is dvided into the following countries:
* Saudi Arabia
* Yemen
* Oman
* United Arab Emirates (UAE)
* Qatar
* Bahrain
The country of Saudi Arabia covers most of Arabia. The majority of the
population of the peninsula lives in Saudi Arabia and in Yemen. The term "the
Middle East" is sometimes applied to the peninsula alone, but usually refers to a much larger region; the term "Arabia", however, is often used to refer only to Saudi Arabia. At other times the term "Arabia" can stand for the whole Arab World, stretching from Morocco in the west to Oman in the east.
Arabia was also a province of the Roman Empire beginning in the second century AD; it consisted of the former Nabataean kingdom in modern Jordan, Sinai, and northwestern Saudi Arabia. Its capital was Petra and its full name was Arabia Petraea.
Jewish historian Josephus, ca. 100 A.D
"Moses went up to a mountain that lay between Egypt and Arabia, which was called Sinai...."
www.archaeologyexpert.co.uk/TheStonesofExodus.html
"The assumption that the famous biblical Mount Sinai is a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula was the decision of Emperor Constantine's mother almost 2,000 years after the actual event of the Exodus. According to The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, "The origin of the present Monastery of Saint Catherine on the NW slope of Jebel Musa is traced back to A.D. 527, when Emperor Justinian established it on the site where Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, had erected a small church two centuries earlier." So where is the real Mt Sinai?
In Search of the Real Mt Sinai
For six years between 1761 and 1767, a Danish archaeological expedition
investigated Helena's site and noted the impossibility of it being the authentic
location. It was most obvious that the narrow valley, where the monastery was located was simply too limiting in space to accommodate the three million men, women, and children (not to mention all of their livestock!) who accompanied Moses in their flight from Egyptian slavery.
In 1978, archaeologist Ron Wyatt discovered chariot wheel remains deep in the Gulf of Eilat just off the Egyptian coast out from Nuweiba. Wyatt believed,
therefore, that the real site of the elusive mountain lay in Arabia on the
opposite shore. After studying maps of Saudi Arabia, he concluded that the most likely location was a peak, within a mountain range, known as Jebel el Lawz. Many archaeologists have used the bible's accurate text as a geographical guide to locate thousands of archaeological discoveries. Wyatt noted that the text recorded that the Hebrev's would be "out of Egypt" when they were to "serve YHVH upon this mountain." And that the mountain was "in Midian." Helena's mountain is in Egypt thus ruling it out.
Midian is in Saudi Arabia but getting in to Saudi Arabia to embark on an archaeological expedition would not prove simple. Five years later Ron Wyatt crossed into the Saudi desert and after hitchhiking and hiring taxis, he arrived near the mountain. Lying on the ground he saw broken white pillars of marble. Immediately Wyatt recalled the biblical account, "and they built an altar at the foot of the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Yisrayl."
Ron and his team believed that these lithic artefacts were pieces of a memorial that had once been built near the altar. The stone fragments revealed that the columns were polished marble over half a metre in diameter. Additionally, there were numerous rectangular marble slabs. The slabs lay all around the altar, while some other pieces lay scattered father a field. Bedouin in the area reported that the stone "memorial" had been taken apart and pieces had been used in a mosque in Hagl. Was he standing at the Stones of Exodus?
Corroborating Evidence of the Exodus Stones
Archaeologists must consider every piece of evidential testimony when attempting to locate undiscovered sites. There are many factors that must corroborate before confirming a claim. Wyatt noted the pre-requisites and compared these to
the location:
1. The mountain top was blackened
2. There were hundreds of hectares of suitable camping land
3. The mountain range enclosed the area
4. There was a huge rock, split in half
5. Petroglyphs of an Egyptian cow
6. Stones forming a sacrificial altar
This was convincing evidence. An archaeologist from Riyadh University observed these compelling discoveries. He concluded that the style of rock drawings of the bulls and cows on the altar had never been seen anywhere else in Saudi Arabia.
Even a cursory read of the biblical account reveals the perfect description of
this site in Saudi Arabia. Sadly for professional archaeologists, politics,
religion, and international relationships often prevent honest investigation."
There IS a mountain within what once was ancient Midian that today's Saudi
Arabians call "Jebel al Lawz", the mountain of The Law (or, the mountain of The Tablets, upon which The Ten Commandments were written). The Saudis
enthusiastically acknowledge that "Jebel al Lawz" is definitely the location of
the Biblical Mount Sinai.
antipas.net
Where is Mount Sinai
"Furthermore, the physical description of the mountain and the area surrounding it conform to the Biblical description perfectly. That mountain, in today's northwestern Saudi Arabia, is a non-volcanic mountain which has a blackened top.
The mountain appears to have been burnt with fire all over its topmost 25%,
which perfectly fits the Biblical description. And, the area immediately
surrounding the mountain has enough level plains to provide space for the
encampment of up to two million people, a number of people in agreement with the Bible, the potential number of sojourners from out of Egypt. Plus, the mountain in Saudi Arabia has archaeological artifacts conforming to Biblical descriptions; e.g. twelve impressively large, obviously man-made, stone pillars,extremely ancient petroglyphs"
dude, WTF?
Okay, great. So what's your point?
We fought a long battle against communist take over, are we ready to fight the Muslim take over? You better be, they already have a foothold in the name of democracy. WAKE UP AMERICA!
completely agree and Obama is their ticket. Anyone read his books...he wrote them...before you vote...you should read them....if you are truly American...you cannot possibly like what you read.
The blame is only on the US shoulders, once again for interfering where they should not be.... I have said it once and still need to say it F** off America... for good...
Your time is coming and that I look forward to....
You are a currency manipulator, keep printing your money because it is worthless... The end of America is the beginning for the world.
Right back at you. What $hithole country do you live in?
And we interfered, how? The US did practically nothing during the Egyptian revolts. Or is that what you're blaming us for?
Or do you not have a point and just go from topic to topic, blaming every bad event on the United States because we're just such awful, mean-spirited bullies?
Just asking. Your post requires clarification.
let me guess Warren....you're an idiot diguised as a moron. go back under your rock....or did the seals take that out of the game too.
Yeah. Huge shock. What kind of idiot didn't see this coming? Even Obama knew this would happen. He just lied about it. How much money do we give our enemies there?
That guys picture is probably under buttugly
Democracy only works in a monolithic society. That's why you destroy a country by advocating Democracy.
We are not a Democracy. We are a privateley owned company, owned by the private Federal Reserve.
Fascinating. So you're a dictatorship fan?
I'd rather have a bank run my nation than a warlord, personally (not that I believe that drivel in the first place).
Egypt will never see freedom just another dictatorial Islamic dictatorship. Congrats to the CIA for being the totally useless agency that it has consistantly proven to be.
Obama, arming every muslim nation with our tax payer's money since 2009. Also installing every muslim country with a radical muslim using our military. Great job guys, keep supporting Obama!
Call him stupid, call him a radical..... call him whatever you want, but after calling him names, admit that...
GLENN BECK SAID LAST YEAR THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
That crazy lunatic has been SPOT ON with what would happen after that fall of Egypt. I personally do not like him, yet the idiot has called it exactly as it is happening.
It would have been silly for them not to run a candidate. Interesting to see how this turns out.
Hey, if a democracy elects Islamists, then that's what the people want. Give it to 'em and then we can complain about the result when we see them.
Welcome to President Obama's "Arab Spring". This is just one of the reasons why every sane American should vote for just about anyone other than Obama!
Rick,
you got that right.
I just wish every DEMOCRAT on the planet would read his two books...he wrote them...what have you got to lose....you would see that Obama is a black racist wannabe muslim. Self admitted at that. Not even the dems want that in a president.
I am a liberal and I saw it coming. In fact I've been reading about the possiblity for the last week. Maybe those who are just now finding out about it limit where they get their news from.
I do not think the Egyptian people will elect a member of the Muslim Brotherhood as president. I have been to Egypt a few times and the people are intelligent and thoughful.
Enough of the fear mongering and thinking the worst of people. It is their country let them rule it as they see fit.
I hope you're right. But the Muslim Brotherhood swept the most recent general election, with 47 percent of all parliament seats. Second in line was the hardline Salafists with 24 percent. The liberal al-Wafd party got 7 percent, with the remaining 22 percent split among smaller political parties (source: Al Jazeera). This is not encouraging.
I have also been to Egypt quite a few times over the last 15 years. I have a long-time business relationship there whose family was VERY close to Naguib, Nasser, and Sadat -- and in fact his close relative had been involved with the Free Officers Movement in the 1952 Revolution and was later an Egyptian Ambassador, among other important positions in the government. All I can say for sure is that this event is not a surprise to anyone who knew what was really happening there over the last decade. IF President Obama was REALLY surprised by the Brotherhood's Arab Spring, then the CIA should be dismantled!
No! Really? Who'd a thunk it?
Call him stupid, call him a radical..... call him whatever you want, but after calling him names, admit that...
GLENN BECK SAID LAST YEAR THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
That crazy lunatic has been SPOT ON with what would happen after that fall of Egypt. I personally do not like him, yet the idiot has called it exactly as it is happening.
The only people that are schocked by this are The Obama administration, Journalists and Democrats. Everyone else saw it coming. If it was not so serious, I would laugh. I cannot. The Muslim Brioherhood is going to make any past mis deeds in Eygpt look like a joke. A sad situation for that nation.
Warren , you are not very smart are you? Do some reading , clear your mind and your hatred
We helped them become a Sharia law Dictatorship. Seems like the same old government as usual.
The Islamic regime in Iran's primary goal has always been the export of the 1979 Islamic Revolution to neighboring states in the middle east. 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.
Why are so many people opposed to people deciding for themselves what their government should look like. If we (USA) were to intervene and control these countries, how would we do it? Should we have stopped the Arab spring and how would we have done that?
World dominance is out of the question now. Many of you seek world dominance and that seems little different than that which you fear. Push back against the USA is natural considering past attempts to control and dominate all these countries. With modern communication capability, people are going to be harder and harder to control. That applies here in the USA as well.
Simple: the latest evil trend is Islamic terrorism. The dictatorships worked to suppress Islamic radicalism.
After WWII, fascism was all the rage in rage. After that, Communism was the big scary enemy. Combined, those two periods were a good year for dictatorships as America's bugbear of choice.
But this is post-9/11. China has actually achieved considerable success without democracy, and terrorism is now scarier than totalitarianism or political radicalism. No matter how bad the dictators might be, what does that matter as long as they fight the terrorists?
There's also the argument that Egypt and Libya are on course to becoming theocracies, but that's much harder to support so you don't see much intelligent discussion around that concept.
That's the thinking, anyway. I for one would rather have ten radical Islamic democracies than even one dicatorship, no matter its religion. There would have been no excuse for us defending Mubarak.
Choice between Muslim leadership and the military? Good luck Egypt.
And to think that the U.S. has accelerated the immigration of peace loving musllims into the country. We seem to have learned nothing from the European experience and will undoubtedly reap the same result.
We'll be seeing more of this in Egypt and elsewhere--
More than 300 Muslim lawyers inside and outside a courthouse in the southern Egyptian province of Assuit today [3/16] prevented defense lawyer Ahmad Sayed Gabali, who is representing the Christian Makarem Diab, from going into court. Mr. Diab was found guilty of "Insulting the Muslim Prophet" and was scheduled today for a hearing on his appeal. Attorney Dr. Naguib Gabriell, head of the Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organization, said there was "terror in the Assiut Court today." He added that he was on his way to court when he was advised that Muslim lawyers have issued death threats to any Christian lawyers who attend the court session. "Makram Diab was assaulted by Muslim lawyers during his transfer from the courtroom and security failed to protect him." Peter Sarwat, a Coptic lawyer, said that Muslim lawyers representing the plaintiffs prevented the defense team from entering court. "They said no Muslim will defend a Christian. It was agreed that Christian lawyers would take over and two Coptic lawyers volunteered, but the Muslims decided later that even Christians would not defend him." Sarwat said the Muslim lawyers wanted to assault the chief judge but he managed to leave the court via a rear door [emphasis added].
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/2993/courtroom-terror
The Copts are screwed now. Check out Raymond Ibrahim's Congressional testimony about the worsening plight of the Copts.
SHOCKED? REALLY???
shock
1 [shok] Show IPA
noun
1.
a sudden and violent blow or impact; collision.
2.
a sudden or violent disturbance or commotion: the shock of battle.
3.
a sudden or violent disturbance of the mind, emotions, or sensibilities: The burglary was a shock to her sense of security. The book provided a shock, nothing more.
4.
the cause of such a disturbance: The rebuke came as a shock.
5.
Pathology . a collapse of circulatory function, caused by severe injury, blood loss, or disease, and characterized by pallor, sweating, weak pulse, and very low blood pressure. Compare anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock.