WHAT IS HAPPENING IN EGYPT?

Michael Totten is one of the best reporters on the Middle East.  He calls it like it is.  The mainstream media has treated the Muslim Brotherhood as some kind of moderate Islamic force (ignoring the attacks on Christians and the destruction of Christian churches.  Unfortunately US policy toward Egypt has failed miserably under the Obama administration.

Here are some excerpts with his interview with Eric Trager (Washington Institute for Near East Policy):  I think Washington’s fascination with the Brotherhood is the product of a search for an Islamist organization that reflects the “culture” of the Middle East and isn’t violent. There is a lack of appreciation for the fact that just because an organization doesn’t lead with violence doesn’t mean it’s going to be moderate or democratic or capable of governing.

And too many analysts took the Brotherhood’s claim of moderation at face value. The Brotherhood says it views shura, an Islamic concept that means consultation, as democracy. Many analysts said the Brotherhood is not only adopting democracy, it’s finding an Islamic justification for it. My view is that far from finding an Islamic justification for democracy, they were simply redefining democracy in a way that wasn’t democratic but sounded good to the West. 

One other thing: the Brotherhood has a five-part motto. The last two components of that motto are “Jihad is our way” and “Death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations.”