State Department and Administration myopia leads to an increase in religious rhetoric in Egypt's elections. Nice going, folks. "In Egypt vote, Islamist influence grows," from the Christian Science Monitor, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
CAIRO - In electoral districts throughout Egypt, campaign posters reading simply "Islam is the solution," urge voters to choose Muslim Brotherhood candidates for parliament when they go to the polls Wednesday. Ahmed Omar, a literature student, will heed the call."I'm not a member of the Muslim Brotherhood but I'm voting for them," says Mr. Omar. "They have values, morality, and wisdom and they hold the word of God above all else."
He is not alone. With the opposition group expected to at least triple its numbers in parliament, a significant shift in the country's political dynamic is afoot. Today, for the first time in decades, not a single Muslim Brother sits in jail, and candidates are campaigning openly as Muslim Brothers.
These parliamentary elections, more so than the country's first multi-candidate presidential poll last month, are seen as a test of the government's commitment to reform.
The incorporation of the Muslim Brotherhood into Egyptian politics is a step forward for US democratization efforts in Egypt, and may in fact be a direct response to US pressure.
If it is, the State Department policy wonks responsible should hang their heads in shame. The Muslim Brotherhood is the direct forefather of Hamas and Al-Qaeda, and holds to the same ideology of caliphate and Sharia. That is an ideology that denies essential freedoms -- freedom of consequence, equal rights for religious minorities and women -- and the U.S. has no business promoting it.
The Islamist group's rise, however, has led traditionally secular political parties to place added emphasis on religion in order to compete. The result is that women and the country's 10 percent Coptic Christian minority are being squeezed out of politics.When Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice came to Cairo last June and told audiences that "fear of free choices can no longer justify the denial of liberty," many here interpreted it as a call for the Egyptian government to lighten up on the Muslim Brotherhood.
Unlike past parliamentary elections in 1995 and 2000, when thousands of the group's members were imprisoned, the officially banned Islamic organization is campaigning free of government harassment....
In the Cairo electoral district of Nasser City, the Muslim Brotherhood's lone female candidate, Makarim Eldeiri, is focusing on family values and, of course, Islam in her campaign.
"Our message is that Islam is the solution, and this is a complete program for all aspects of government and family life," she says.
While it's no surprise that a Brotherhood candidate would stress Islam, what is worrying to many is the affect that her campaign has had on her opponent. Faced with a strong challenge from Ms. Eldeiri, the ruling party incumbent has responded by adopting "The Koran is the solution" as his slogan.
The phenomenon has repeated itself in other districts.
The ruling National Democratic Party nominated just two Coptic parliamentary candidates out of a total of 444 this year....
"There is no desire to give the Copts representation in parliament and this is among the reasons that the Christian feel oppressed," says Milad Hana, a secular Coptic writer. "There is more and more a sectarian air within the ruling powers in Egypt."
The situation for women is equally grim, say women's rights activists. Though President Hosni Mubarak repeatedly stressed the empowerment of women during his reelection campaign earlier this year, his party has nominated just six women to compete for parliament. The alliance of opposition forces has nominated just seven. Both those numbers are down from 2000, when 11 women ran from the ruling party, and 22 from the opposition.
Thanks, apparently, to the U.S.A.
Correction: Thanks to the Cheney, Rove, Bush cabal and all of those who put him in office, believing (as they still do) that they are better than the "Dems" (probably because of their position on internal social issues). Last I looked the Dems were more favorably inclined toward and supportive of Israel than the Repubs, at least that's what I have read and understood most of my adult life.
Looks like the good ole fashion family value Republicans are selling Israel down the drain.
Three suicide bombers in Amman, Jordan.
Nariz,
What does Israel have to do with any of this?
It's the women and Copts in Egypt who are going to be most harmed as a result of Islamists gaining power. Israel is no more harmed by these events than America is.
By the way, you're welcome.
Nariz:
"Last I looked the Dems were more favorably inclined toward and supportive of Israel than the Repubs, at least that's what I have read and understood most of my adult life."
I've been following your inanities for several days. If there's anything that points to your utter ignorance of politics, history and morality, it's the statement above.
Why morality? Because nobody can be that stupid; thus, you must be saying these things out of malice.
At Least 18 Killed in Jordan Hotel Blasts
http://news.yahoo.com/fc/world/jordan
Morons. Islam is the problem, not a "solution" for anything, except perhaps depleting the surplus population.
Looks to me like the bombings in Jordan came From Palis who were Hezbela sent by Iran???
So if you link the dots that puts Palis and Iran of course that is easy then you connect that dot to al-qudea?? Which is the base??
STOP THE PC CRAP Fat boy z in Iraq is a pali Jordain??
Just Iran’s way what was it they said yesterday to stop the Behavoir Now the King of Jordan doesn’t seam like a whimp to me we will see how he handles this?
By the way I hope the Ill Well and a speedy recovery.
When you feed a tiger don’t be suprized if that tiger turns and bites you!!
Remember it was the King of Jordan who let the fat boy out of jail in 1999??
Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
GOD BLESS THE USA AND HER FIGHTING FORCES AND ALL WHO FIGHT WITH HER GIVE THEM STRENGTH, WISDOM, SIGHT, AND COURAGE TO DESTROY ALL ISLAMIC TERRORIST AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEM AMEN
PS
as of Egypt this is normal sa Mr. Spencer pointed out Egypt was a Christian country like Iran was of a different faith when they get their toe in the water they over time suck the air out of the room!!
Make sure you vote in this poll:
In your opinion, are Western values fundamentally at odds with those of Islam?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
"Why morality? Because nobody can be that stupid; thus, you must be saying these things out of malice."
It seems thus to me too, but it's also possible from Nariz's inanity that he's just too stupid to understand how stupid he is -- I am increasingly convinced of this...
Mentant,
Interesting poll. Did you see the former one which asked "Are riots like those in France possible in Canada"? 72 percent said "yes."
Even the Canucks know that the game's up with Islam.
I wouldn't say that Nariz is stupid, but I don't understand why he keeps saying that Pym Fortuyn and Ayaan Hirsi Ali are "leftists" when he's been corrected numerous times on this.
Fortuyn was considered of the "extreme right" (by European standards) and Hirsi Ali belongs to a center-right party.
"Islam is the solution?"
Yeah! Like Talib-Afghanistan and Iran, like the head-chopping-flogging- limb-removing Friday sessions in Saudi Arabia?
Some "solution" that! Solution to what?
They have no god no nothing.How can a human being(not that they are one!!))enter a weding and blow up himself with so many innocent ppl??Is it for muhammad?,Allah?,72 virgins? No its pure hatred against anything western!!The wake up call is very loud!!!
Some "solution" that! Solution to what?
Posted by: sheik yer'mami
That's easy.... solution to fun
solution to.... artwork
solution to.... wind in the hair and sun on the face of women
solution to.... music
solution to.... happiness, ever again
I get such a gray, dismal, feeling when I think of islam ruling the Earth, G-d forbid.
i think what you are hearing a is very loud minority. like the far left in the US, al franken, moore, etc. they do not represent the majority. in Egypt you have corrupt officials, and people do not have much of a choice. but in the end, l think if allowed to vote for moderate democratic officials they would win out in the end. l am thinking more positive. l know from what l read, some of the Muslims in the West Bank are fed up with the extreme Hamas, they wanted to celebrated by dancing,Hamas did not allow it! When Hamas are allowed to rule like the repressive Taliban, the regular people will get fed up with them, and toss them out if allowed to vote them out! now if they only would realize that the Isrealies would allow them more freedom and democracy! Wake up Arabs!!! you need freedom, not a cult from the 700's!!!
Islam is the solution for the End of the World
In fact, Islam solves nothing
It kills, destroys and is rabid in its stain
it is not a Life; it's Walking Death
Islam solves nothing. You are what you solve
5 billion people screaming as the planet goes dark is quite a 'solution' indeed (one sent courtesy of the anti-God, Satan, calling itself 'Gabriel' perchance?).....
....and if you believe the Egyptians on Islam being the 'solution', you'll also believe that the cow jumped over the moon.
The Egyptians' proclamation goes to show: 'NEVER LISTEN TO ANYTHING A MUSLIM SAYS (EXCEPT WHEN HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU-- WHICH could prove TRUE)'.
Deliver us from Islam and its Killer-Zombies. Amen.
What l left out of my last post, for the majority of Muslims, they most likely believe their religion to be a peaceful one, or at least are blind to the Koran's other violent passages. we from the West have been free to express our freedom of speech, free of death threats from the Church, etc. To the average Muslim who grew up their whole life believing this lie, and to have them really look and question their
religion would quite frightening. My nephrew who works at a factory, and a fellow worker who is an Arab Muaslim emigrant, he expressed at one time, that he did not believe in any God, or questioned that one existed. This poor Arab Muslim told him that to say that in his country he would be killed!
of course my nephrew was truly surprised! We do not sometimes realize how truly blessed we are to live in the West! l know that the quest for freedoms is a human need (including Muslims) but they have been blinded, and will take quite a bit of education. That is why when they emigrate to the West, they should be required to intergrate, not allowed Sharia laws, or to be more non PC, no
Mosques allowed till they reform their Koran. Needless to say, there would be a huge cry, but l do not see any other way to hasten their liberation of the Koran.
All that awaits the Copts, one the world oldest people, are slavery or the gallows. In the world of a former Sheikh of Al-Azher: “we will make ropes out of your hair and insoles out of your skin…
From my vantage point working with Coptic asylum seekers, I have seen immigration judges destroy one life after another by sending vulnerable people back to the country they ran away from to shelter under the American eagle. Nina Shay claims that this is a very standard outcome.
Islamic fanatics face official torture at the hand of the Government according to Freedom House. The Copts do not enjoy such an official recognition as victims of the regime… Owing to that, America opens its arms to Muslim fanatics escaping their just fate by coming here to wreak havoc while the Copts are more likely to be deported.
The Copts contribute to the tax base, paying into rather than burdening the welfare state, they and their children are model citizens, they do not burden law enforcement, the courts, or the prison system, their charitable contributions uplift the country rather than pay for murder and mayhem, they invent, educate, build, and heal…. However, the US show its fairness and better judgment by relegating them to the end of the line of those huddled masses streaming out of Islamic hell holes.
Good day to you folks.
Mr. Spencer asks if it was the "policy wonks" at the State Department responsible (in part) for some of the decision making.
Excellent book: [i] Dangerous Diplomacy [/i] by Joel Mowbray.
Eye - opening to say the least.
islam is the problem
islam is the problem
islam is the problem.
In the level playing field, not, both in Canada and Egypt, you get yourself killed, beaten or threatened, for publicly stating that 'islam is the problem'; but are in no danger saying 'islam is the solution'.
To ensure that the playing field stays uneven, and to make Canada more like Egypt, so that we will all understand that muslims are untouchable and allahs gift to us all, the Canadian govt is proposing bringing in over 700,000 immigrants per year in the future, double our present intake; this could mean up to an extra 200,000 muslems entering Canada each and every year. Thought this might cheer everyone up. I might add, no muslims should be allowed to immigrate to Canada.
ISLAM IS THE PROBLEM, which makes muslims, even moderate ones, a problem.
I think that within the next 5 years the s*&* is going to hit the fan EVERYWHERE. So maybe GW should go nuts now and make that whole mid east region one big pile of glowing glass. Maybe the rest in other countries would change their minds.