David Bukay: Misconception or Betrayal? The U.S., Egypt, and Iran
[David Bukay, Ph.D. is at the School of Political Science, the University of Haifa.]
The similarities between Iran and Egypt concerning U.S. policy are disconcerting. Is Egypt repeating the 1979 Iranian revolution, led by religious preaching against authoritarian friend of the U.S., the shah, resulting in an Islamic theocracy? Will the Islamic theocracy led by the Muslim Brotherhood win, or will the military keep its political power?...
Both branches of the Muslim Brotherhood brilliantly practiced Islamic Taqiyah to hide their real intentions and political ambitions amidst the mass uprisings. During his exile, when Khomeini was under the glare of the international media, his declarations were mild and non-aggressive. He understood what the U.S. wanted to hear, and promised a more responsive democratic government. Not once before his return to Iran did he mention his ideology and perceptions, and the media and political leaders, led by a policy of ignorance, found him appealing and moderate.
The U.S. ambassador, William Sullivan, wrote that Khomeini would work well with army officers. Professor Richard Falk in the New York Times argued that Khomeini, surrounded by moderate politicians, had a "notable record of concern for human rights."
This is exactly the situation in Egypt concerning the MB words and activities [i]. Its step-by-step plan, as developed by its Charter [ii], is phony moderation, a pragmatic facade, which will vanish as its power increases. Its acceptance of the existing situation will be replaced by Muslim rule whose foreign policy is based on jihad.
However, "experts" in the media have concertedly representing the MB as benign, unpopular, and marginal. The MB's tactical absence from the protests in the streets of Cairo has been widely misread as proof of their lack of political ambition and marginality. Indeed, this is the best Taqiyah. The MB are the most powerful organized political group in Egypt, dedicated and committed to death-cult jihad: the Egyptian people "should be prepared for war against Israel ... the peace treaty must be cancelled," said Muhammad Ghanem[iii]. This attitude reiterated by Mahdi Akef, former MB Supreme Guide [iv], and Rashad al-Bayoumi, MB deputy [v]. For Muhammad Badi, "the improvement and change the Muslim nation seeks can only be attained through Jihad and sacrifice, by raising a Jihadi generation that pursues death, just as the enemies pursue life"[vi]....
Read entire article at American Thinker
The similarities between Iran and Egypt concerning U.S. policy are disconcerting. Is Egypt repeating the 1979 Iranian revolution, led by religious preaching against authoritarian friend of the U.S., the shah, resulting in an Islamic theocracy? Will the Islamic theocracy led by the Muslim Brotherhood win, or will the military keep its political power?...
Both branches of the Muslim Brotherhood brilliantly practiced Islamic Taqiyah to hide their real intentions and political ambitions amidst the mass uprisings. During his exile, when Khomeini was under the glare of the international media, his declarations were mild and non-aggressive. He understood what the U.S. wanted to hear, and promised a more responsive democratic government. Not once before his return to Iran did he mention his ideology and perceptions, and the media and political leaders, led by a policy of ignorance, found him appealing and moderate.
The U.S. ambassador, William Sullivan, wrote that Khomeini would work well with army officers. Professor Richard Falk in the New York Times argued that Khomeini, surrounded by moderate politicians, had a "notable record of concern for human rights."
This is exactly the situation in Egypt concerning the MB words and activities [i]. Its step-by-step plan, as developed by its Charter [ii], is phony moderation, a pragmatic facade, which will vanish as its power increases. Its acceptance of the existing situation will be replaced by Muslim rule whose foreign policy is based on jihad.
However, "experts" in the media have concertedly representing the MB as benign, unpopular, and marginal. The MB's tactical absence from the protests in the streets of Cairo has been widely misread as proof of their lack of political ambition and marginality. Indeed, this is the best Taqiyah. The MB are the most powerful organized political group in Egypt, dedicated and committed to death-cult jihad: the Egyptian people "should be prepared for war against Israel ... the peace treaty must be cancelled," said Muhammad Ghanem[iii]. This attitude reiterated by Mahdi Akef, former MB Supreme Guide [iv], and Rashad al-Bayoumi, MB deputy [v]. For Muhammad Badi, "the improvement and change the Muslim nation seeks can only be attained through Jihad and sacrifice, by raising a Jihadi generation that pursues death, just as the enemies pursue life"[vi]....