Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
I haven't read much about this, if anything, but I am surprised how little blowback Obama gets for his sometimes glib, nonsensical statements. In the interview with O'Reilly there was this exchange:
O'REILLY: The Muslim Brotherhood, a great concern to a lot of people. Are they a threat to the USA?
OBAMA: I think that the Muslim Brotherhood is one faction in Egypt. They don't have majority support in Egypt. They are --
O'REILLY: Are they a threat?
OBAMA: But they are well-organized and there are strains of their ideology that are anti-U.S. There's no doubt about it. But here's the thing that we have to understand, there are a whole bunch of secular folks in Egypt, there are a whole bunch of educators and civil society in Egypt that wants to come to the fore as well. And it's important for us not the say that our only two options are either the Muslim Brotherhood or a suppressed Egyptian people.
Of course not; those aren't the only two options. (What's with the "our" though?) That's not the issue or the concern. The concern isn't how many other factions or options there are, but whether there is a substantial likelihood that this militant, anti-US, anti-Israel, pro-Jihadist group gains significant or total control. In fact, even if it's a small, but real possibility, we have to be very concerned. Can you imagine another radical Islamist regime in the region and directly neighboring Israel.
Sen. Feinstein's admission that we have to be concerned about this is interesting, if belated. But does anyone (not O'Reilly, that's for sure) call Obama on this wrongheaded thinking -- on a matter so deadly serious? Or perhaps he just articulated inartfully, but it doesn't seem so, for his statement was clearly in line with the policy he was pushing at the time, i.e. immediate resignation of Mubarak.
Is it his air of self-assurance that throws some people off? I just don't get it.
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Jun '10
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
David, You're not seriously suggesting that guests of the President of the United States when he spoke in Cairo are harboring nefarious plans to create a radical Islamist state in Egypt? That's not very multicultural of you. I think you should apologize to the Muslim Brotherhood for besmirching their good name. After all, they've just communicated to the world that they're not seeking power in Egypt. And the word "brotherhood" is so close to the word "fellowship" isn't it? Perhaps, rather than being so harsh in your criticism of our President, you should find a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and well, just hug him.
Oct '10
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
IE: Is it his air of self-assurance that throws some people off? I just don't get it...
It more along the lines of not being able to connect with much of anything and provide insightfull responses.
Trying to resolve this would be like beatng your head against a wall, you will just get a headache..
Dec '10
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
Apologies to Tom Lehrer:
Oh the protesters hate Mubarak,
And Mubarak hates the protesters,
And Islamists hate the Coptics,
And everybody hates the Jews!
But during Muslim Brotherhood Week,
Edited on Feb 9, 2011 at 11:32amMuslim Brotherhood Week,
Practice-taqqiya-on-one-another-hood week,
We'll all sound moderate
About the folks we hate
And be reasonable in all of our demands,
At least until the government's in our hands!
Nov '10
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
"Is it his air of self-assurance that throws some people off? I just don't get it..." Obama's problem is simply that he's not as informed as your average Ricochet member. When he speaks about the Muslim Brotherhood he does so out of ignorance. In fairness, I am pretty ignorant as well, but then, I'm not leading the nation.
Jun '10
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
He knows exactly who they are and what they stand for. He's been briefed by the CIA, the FBI and the DOJ on them and their activities...and knowing what he does, it should concern Americans, Israelis and moderate Muslims who prefer secular governments that he still will not specifically condemn them and even goes out of his way to invite them to his speeches. I believe the point that David and others are making is that Obama and Hillary should openly and frankly say, "The United States will not support any new government in Egypt that is controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood." But, of course, we may not hear that until Obama is hopefully replaced in 2012, and by that time it may be too late.
Edited on Feb 9, 2011 at 11:44amOct '10
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
...and there are strains of their ideology that are anti-U.S.
I'm afraid that I'm not entirely clear on which "strains of their ideology" are NOT anti-U.S. Is the president actually suggesting that there are some items on which the United States and the Muslim Brotherhood can agree? Or at least agree to disagree? This is not akin to Republicans versus Democrats on budget matters but I don't think he really understands that.
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
Chris Bogdan: ...and there are strains of their ideology that are anti-U.S.
I'm afraid that I'm not entirely clear on which "strains of their ideology" are NOT anti-U.S. Is the president actually suggesting that there are some items on which the United States and the Muslim Brotherhood can agree? Or at least agree to disagree? This is not akin to Republicans versus Democrats on budget matters but I don't think he really understands that. · Feb 9 at 12:30pm
Good point. I noticed those weasel words when I watched it but forget when writing this post. That was clearly a euphemistic rendering of the reality. They are virulently anti-US and anti-Israel and to say less is to be dishonest.
Feb '11
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
"There are strains of their ideology that are anti-US"...for understatement, this ranks right up there with Hirohito's observation that "The war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage" in his surrender speech.
Dec '10
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
I thought Feinstein's mention that, in Iran, the extremist faction in 1979 was thought to represent around 20 percent of the population. Isn't that the same number, approximately, that we are fed as the extent of the influence of the MB in Egypt?
Jul '10
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
I ran across a stream of Eleanor Clift playing defense in panel for Obama on his handling of Egypt last weekend with Krauthammer and Buchanan in attendance. She was completely reduced to nay-saying the facts everyone was well aware of, including Obama's demand that Mubarak leave immediately.
They don't come much less qualified than the Regime. They even passed a 2200 page bill and forgot to make it constitutional. What? Not enough space?
Edited on Feb 9, 2011 at 5:08pmSep '10
Re: Obama: "Muslim Brotherhood and Suppressed Egyptian People Aren't Only Options" -- What?
Is Obama hatching some secret plan to airlift a bumper crop of Amish churchgoers in to settle Egypt into some type of peaceful, agricultural paradise? By the way, I haven't watched The McYelling Group in decades but I think what ticked Eleanor off was the apparent recent change in policy where they start hiring panelists who can wear skirts and heels.
(Note to Ricochet: Those heels may be in violation of the CoC by being higher than 3". Please investigate.)
Edited on Feb 10, 2011 at 8:07am