Who's Who In The Power Struggle In Egypt
Amir Taheri lays it out in the New York Post:
Founded in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood remains the most organized party at the moment. Yet its strength shouldn't be exaggerated. It is almost absent in Upper Egypt and has little support among peasants, more than half of the population.The brotherhood, moreover, is divided into factions that hate each other more than they hate their common enemies. One faction (the source of the ideology that produced al Qaeda) has been the public face of the Gamma al-Islamiyah (Islamic Society) and other terrorist groups. By contrast, another faction acknowledges that trying to impose sharia on Egypt could prove as disastrous as in neighboring Sudan.
A third faction is influenced by the Turkish experience that has allowed an Islamist party to form the government within a secular constitution. It's also concerned about the rise of Salafist Islam, which regards even the Muslim Brotherhood as "Kaffir" (Infidel). Thus a good chunk of the brotherhood might split to claim a place in a multiparty system, if such an occasion arises.
The next structured group, although smaller, is Egypt's oldest political party, Wafd (Delegation) -- which until the last election was the parliamentary opposition. The center-right party governed Egypt until the military coup of 1952; it appeals to urban middle classes and has an old base among the peasantry...
More at the link.
What gets me is how Barry threw Mubarak under the bus instantly. Maybe a message to one of Egypt's neighbors, on who's in charge?
biff at February 1, 2011 6:56 AM
Maybe a message to one of Egypt's neighbors, on who's in charge?
Which one would that be? Libya? the Sudanese? Yemen? Saudi? Jordan? Lebanon? or Israel? sorry, I don't think any of them tremble at the colossus that is The Won.
I R A Darth Aggie at February 1, 2011 7:08 AM
"What gets me is how Barry threw Mubarak under the bus instantly."
Oh, please, like it's up to "Barry" to prop someone up whose own peole want to throw him out. BTW, you just called Mubarak our little colonial bitch. That ought to be enough reason for the Egyptians to wnat to chuck him. How well would you like a president that was installed and maintained by the Chinese for instance?
"Maybe a message to one of Egypt's neighbors, on who's in charge?"
Yeah, hope so - not us. If we are going to talk democracy, we ought to walk it too.
Jim at February 1, 2011 8:39 AM
Ran into one of the higher-ups (forget his name) in a bank in Geneva when I was a teenager. My grandmother pointed him out to me, he is apparently in exile in Switzerland. I'd never heard of the Muslim Brotherhood before, that's how I learned about them.
NicoleK at February 1, 2011 9:51 AM
What gets me is how Barry threw Mubarak under the bus instantly.
Say what? The Obama and the State department have been entirely measured in their responses here; they certainly haven't overtly suggested overthrowing Mubarak.
That ought to be enough reason for the Egyptians to wnat to chuck him. How well would you like a president that was installed and maintained by the Chinese for instance?
It is a lot of why they want to get rid of him. And partially why they don't like us.
Christopher at February 1, 2011 10:45 AM
A bit of advice for the Egyptians, better the devil you know. You will either unleash a more strict dicatorship, or worse and islamic theocracy ala Iran. Either way, the middle class will be sorry
ronc at February 1, 2011 1:09 PM
Leave a comment