How fitting that it was Juma — Friday, the Islamic Sabbath day — that convinced Hosni Mubarak to end his 30-year reign as Egypt’s ruler.
This was only hours after James Clapper, the U.S. director of national intelligence, told Congress that Mubarak’s main opposition, the Muslim Brotherhood, is “largely secular” in nature. Mr. Clapper was merely echoing the American media, taking pains to brand Egypt’s uprising as secular, democratic, and Islamist-free. It is a narrative divorced from reality. In Egypt, a self-consciously devout Islamic country, nothing is secular and Islamist-free, and therefore nothing is truly democratic, not in the Western sense.
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It is on Juma that Muslims attend weekly communal prayers. Out they then pour from thousands of mosques, with fiery sermons by some of the ummah’s most fundamentalist imams still ringing in their ears. On Thursday night, when Mubarak defiantly said he wasn’t going anywhere, that he would not relinquish all his powers, the throng gathered in Tahrir Square was outraged. Outraged crowds the police state could handle. Crowds inflamed by the imams are a different story. Those would be the crowds on Friday. It was time to go.
So Mubarak is gone. Just as Sadat is gone, and Nasser, and King Farouk, and the Brits. The Brotherhood has outlasted all of them. Time after time, it has been repressed, persecuted, driven underground, and officially banned. The Brotherhood survives and thrives in Egypt because its credo — “Allah is our objective, the Prophet is our leader, the Koran is our law, jihad is our way, and dying in the way of Allah is our highest objective” — concisely speaks the sentiments of Islamic Egypt. It survives and thrives throughout the Islamic world because its Salafist ideology admonishes Muslims to take Mohammed, Islam’s warrior prophet, as their guide and to honor the principles of Islam’s founders, the “rightly guided caliphs.”
That is not to say all Muslims agree with the Brotherhood’s call to install strict sharia. Many don’t. It is a disagreement, though, that is perilous to voice. The Brotherhood perceives itself, and is widely perceived, as guardian of the true Islam. If you’re a Muslim, you can rationalize that the Islamists are too retrograde, too literal in their construction of doctrine. In the confines of your mind, you can admire Western thought and the place it reserves in faith for reason — an attribute on which Islam slammed shut its “gates of Ijtihad” a millennium ago. You can insist, in the silence of your conscience, that while you will take sharia as your private ethical guide, you have no interest in its public program. But you won’t say it aloud.
This is the quandary. If you are a Muslim, from exactly what part of the Brotherhood’s motto would you dissent? Allah obviously is your objective. Mohammed is regarded by your scriptures as the perfect human model to be emulated. Are you going to dissent from sharia, the law of Islam taken straight from the Koran and authoritative accounts of the Prophet’s words and deeds? Or from the imperative of jihad, a divine injunction the scriptures say Allah has elevated over all others?
The Brotherhood’s program — perhaps sincerely, but certainly shrewdly — strives for rigorous fidelity to Islam’s origins. That is why the Brothers are so popular with the scholars at al-Azhar University, and why they have been embraced for over a half-century by the rulers of Saudi Arabia — custodians of Islam’s holiest cities and sites. Even for a Muslim who privately believes the Brothers are a menace, publicly saying so is fraught with risk. This is especially so when one considers that, for Muslims, treason — sowing discord within the ummah — is considered apostasy, the gravest sin in Islam and one for which the penalty is death.
It is an act of great courage for a Muslim to oppose the Brotherhood openly. Personal, tacit dissent is one thing — the common thing. But the Brothers have effectively taken on the mantel of Islam itself. Even those many who would deny it to them have a hard time saying why publicly.
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Egypt WILL NOT ATTACK ISRAEL (they are not THAT STUPID, ARE THEY?) but by cutting off the Suez Canal (Panama Canal, according to Mr. Tingles up his leg over at MSNBC) to oil transport, it will make the price of oil go up and up and up.
The MediaAdministration translates "Allah is our objective, The Prophet is our leader, the Koran is our law,jihad is our way, and dying in the way of Allah is our highest objective" as "We just want to make a difference".
You give the Obama administration to much credit. They are not that smart. They are re-active, not proactive. They are always one step behind. They, and Obama himself are overwhelmed and in over their heads. This is purely amateur hour.
I do not mean to sound flippant, but at least PREPARING for failure would be better than having it come as a surprise. By that I mean this: Mr. McCarthy, as critical as he is, is giving the Obama Administration way too much credit. When failure comes (and it certainly will), the reaction of these naifs will look anything but "prepared." The whole crew actually believes their own messianic hype. Clapper is willing to deceive on the question of secularism (and violence eschewment)because he DOESN'T THINK IT MATTERS. The force of The One's greatness will bridge these trivial conflicts. There is nothing more pathetic (or dangerous) than a liberal with a hero.
Anyone who expect democracy in Egypt
either is clueless about the Middle east or is a useful idiot. We all are seeing what's going on in Turkey. Even after 90 years of secular reforms and 60 years multi-party democracy The Turks are willing to go back to 7th century. Until Islam is reformed from inside by Reformist Muslims, there is no hope for peace between Islam and the infidels. We should all hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.
Sorry for the length.
I am not proposing we do anything about this democratic movement in Egypt and I hope against hope that it turns out well but I am a realist and a student of history and I fear what may take place. A quick look at history will show that there has been little success with regards to secularism in the Middle East unless ruled under a cruel dictator whom we pay off. Turkey is the best example of a democratic secular government and it is now quickly changing. Even with modern diplomacy and the internet the most optimist observer must see it is getting worse, not better. How many people and politicians openly wished for a return of Saddam Hussein in Iraq for better or for worse? How many in hindsight wish we never got involved? As we watch them line up to vote for Muqtada al-Sadr after slaughtering his own people? These people are brought up from birth with a handicap. They are brainwashed into thinking that infidels are the cause of all their problems especially the Israelis then Americans. These people are taught racist propaganda, that would make the Nazi's look tame, from birth in their schools, media, and homes. Even many brought up in the West are recruited. The Egyptians will vote for the Muslim Brotherhood because they believe this is best for them.
In the end, I would bet, this will end up like it did for the American Indians no matter how noble their cause was. Yes only 1 in 100 Indians attacked, scalped, raped, killed, and/or enslaved white settlers while we were brutalizing them just as bad and taking their land. In the end public opinion turned against the Indian and we as a nation believed them to be violent savages enough to exterminate them (Custer was a hero). As did the Nazi's against Jews, as did Milosevic to the Muslims, as did Stalin, as did Mao... as did the Romans, Huns, Mongols... etc, etc. Don't think this won't happen, like the world thought after WWI. As most of the Middle East becomes purveyors of terrorism, it is like a self fulfilling prophesy. We are human after all, and it is just a matter of time before we are pushed over the edge and do the unthinkable. We don't even have to start it and it doesn't have to be the US either... Maybe Israel will or India; either is capable on its own of wiping out the entire region. A billion people with AK's against modern planes, tanks, and cluster bombs wouldn't stand a chance in total war. Eventually hearts and minds won't matter like in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. This is repeated throughout history everywhere, especially with regards to the Muslim faith. Yes we had Crusades and wars in the past but don't kid yourselves into thinking we are not capable of repeating this type of action. The Crusades came right after and during the Moors invasion of Europe and subjugation of Spain. These people were far more numerous, organized, and advanced than the west in the dark ages. Our culture was probably only saved by a logistical problem not easily over come at the time and a few desperate Frankish knights and peasants. The Ottoman Turks were at almost constant war with the Byzantines and Eastern Europe, for 800 years, to the point that they almost sacked Vienna (with British help) and they paid dearly for it. Iran knows this to be true and that is why they will stop at nothing before they get the bomb. Their leaders are prepared to die, they have rallies about this coming Armageddon, it is just a question of when and how many Infidels they take with them. Remember that they perceive their own culture to be at risk, with good reason, as ours was back in the dark ages. Those that don't embrace the western culture will fight with everything they have; men, women, and child, just like the great American Indian.
The religious devotion of a people does not a theocratic state make. I doubt the writer has actual knowledge of the situation and frankly, doubt the writer's sincerity.
Googling the matter I can only find right wingers echoing other right wingers, with no data to back their claims. There's polling data I'm seeing quoted but no actual polling reports I can find. Not that I suspect the right wing blogsphere's honesty (oh wait... deathpanels, birthers, socialist accusations... that's right, I totally do)
Mr. McCarthy's thesis seems to point to the inevitability of war with all of Islam. Extremism exists in all religious faiths, look no further than our own soil -- right and left wing anarchists, etc.
I'm pretty sure the Obama administration in its detailed deliberations and cautious movements are always seen as dithering and weakness from the nudniks on the Right (Cheney, et al), but there is a greater chance at success with that method than action driven by a gut feeling.
I can't tell if McCarthy's insistent anti-Obama agenda is driven by pure ideological reasons or jealousy at the president's personal story. What do you think?
The only modern nation-states so far that have attempted to exist without any religion are the Soviet Union and its socialist offshoots. Historically, we have the Reign of Terror in revolutionary France. If you survey history, you will begin to wonder if any society can long exist as positively atheist. Within a few years, we're going to know. If the post-Christian West can face down Mohammedanism, atheism will be vindicated. If not, Western culture will disappear into a new Mohammedan Dark Age (as opposed to the previous Mohammedan Dark Ages.).
Some Muslim regimes for now appear to be secular, but it is oxymoronic to believe that Islam, like Judaism, will in the future produce secular governments.
Thus, it is self-defeating for Christian Nations (nations with large Christian majorities) to secularize their democratic governments with their adherence to the doctrine of "Separation between Church and State" such as in the United States in order to accommodate Islam. Is this part of the plan to destroy the old order?
Such SECULARIZATION could only lead to ATHEISTIC HUMANISM that is now weakening the Faith of Christian nations in Christ Jesus as is now happening in the U.S. and in Europe.
History attests that in the long run, nations and governments that are DEVOID of a CENTRAL or NATIONAL THEOLOGY will eventually fade from the face the earth! The most recent proof was the demise of the atheistic USSR (United Soviet Socialist Republics).
It appears to me that the present strategy of the Western world is to paved the way towards the Islamization of the world!
At the end, at the rate that Christian nations are secularizing their governments, only Islam and the Vatican will be left in the near future to confront each other.
The math on this one is simple. A Muslim is an adherent of the religion of Islam. So by simple definition, "Muslim Brotherhood" is not a secular organization. A little Web research shows without a doubt that their interests are inimical to ours, whether you define us as "the West" or "Americans."
As for what we do, Cab, we continue on with Our Own Great Awakening, which began on Election Day 2010. We're off to a good start, in that the Democrats lost their majority in the House, as well as several Senate seats, state legislatures and governorships. Obama himself realizes he got one hell of a shellacking.
I read, and I believe, that turning things around would take two election cycles: 2010 and 2012. We're off to a GREAT start.
The game plan is to kick Obama out of the Oval Office and undo the damage he has done.
ARegularGuy,
You ask this question on this site?
Anyone who by this time is not anti Obama is not paying attention.
I do wish we had someone in power now who understands the horror of what we will face if the Islamists take over in that part of the world. Nothing in Obama's behavior or in the choices of his appointments leads me to believe he is horrified or even unhappy with the prospect of
The Muslim Brotherhood being important in the new Egypt.
And that is frightening. Why does it not frighten you?
Some Muslim regimes for now appear to be secular, but it is oxymoronic to believe that Islam, like Judaism, will, in the future, produce secular governments.
Thus, it is self-defeating for Christian Nations (nations with large Christian majorities) to secularize their democratic governments with their adherence to the doctrine of "Separation between Church and State" such as in the United States in order to accommodate Islam. Is this part of the plan to destroy the old order?
Such SECULARIZATION could only lead to ATHEISTIC HUMANISM that is now weakening the Faith of Christian nations in Christ Jesus as is now happening in the U.S. and in Europe.
History attests that in the long run, nations and governments that are DEVOID of a CENTRAL or NATIONAL THEOLOGY will eventually fade from the face the earth! The most recent proof was the demise of the atheistic USSR (United Soviet Socialist Republics).
It appears to me that the present strategy of the Western world is to pave the way towards the Islamization of the world!
sounds like a Charley McCarthy adult fantasy. Guess that AM has recently been spending lots of time in Egypt. Oh he hasn't ?? Are only Coptics participating in the nationwide protests? Don't want the new reality to make a mockery of your life long ideology? Maybe you do understand, better than any of us imagine, the mind set of the MB, the mindset of an ideology overrun by a new reality.
I think Mr. McCarthy's writings are motivated by sincere belief and are grounded in fact. I also believe that President Obama's actions regarding Egypt are motivated by sincere belief that the U.S. and Egypt will both be better off with Hosni Mubarak gone. I am not sure how much Obama's thinking is grounded in fact. The question is will Post-Mubarak Egypt evolve in a somewhat positive direction like Indonesia or in a catastrophic direction like Iran?
I gather you like the odds that Egypt will be more like Indonesia than Iran. I am more pessimistic and agree with Mr. McCarthy on this subject. Further, I find your comments petty and intentionally insulting to Mr. McCarthy. I expect better from people who leave comments on this website.
Perhaps you should refrain from petty insults in the future. Thanks.
I appreciate Mr. McCarthy's analysis and I can think of no counter-argument. On which Muslim Brotherhood point can a Muslim in Egypt publicly disagree? That Allah is not the Supreme Being? That Mohammed's life is not the mandatory example for all to follow? That sharia law is not likewise mandatory? That jihad -- struggle -- to put sharia into effect is not also mandatory? That death in service to that cause is not the greatest gift the individual can give to his or her countrymen? The logic is irrefutable. Likewise the conclusion that, to disagree with any of these points in public is apostacy and punishable by death. The logic is irrefutable.
Friday night I watched a panel of Mideast experts on the PBS News Hour, and not one of them breathed a word about this elephant in the room. They should be ashamed.
