Whatâs
Wrong Today:
The
Wrongologist is not an Egyptian expert. He is of two minds about the current
situation where the Muslim Brotherhood (“MB”) has been ousted from power in Egypt
in a military coup. There is an astonishing amount of support for the ouster
around the region and around the world as well.
Mr.
Obama also has had difficulty hitting the ball down the middle of the fairway. He
expressed concern over the militaryâs action, urged all sides to exercise
restraint and reiterated that the United States takes no side except to support
democracy and the rule of law. All while the Egyptian Army Chief Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi spent
time speaking with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, probably to be sure
the US was OK with the coup.
We have been
beating our chests and beating the world to death with the concept of âdemocracyâ.
Maybe it is time to admit itâs not for everybody.
Juan
Cole reported that General Al-Sisi said that the officer corps had been in dialogue with the various political
parties since the crisis in November, 2012, when President Morsi
abruptly declared himself above the law. He then pushed through a theocratic
constitution (turnout for the referendum on it was only 30%), then tried to
pack their Senate with MB members and sympathizers.
Cole
reports that Al-Sisi indicated that all
the political actors on the Egyptian stage showed a willingness to compromise
to end the crisis except Morsi, who refused to show any flexibility. A
last attempt at national reconciliation, brokered by the officers, began June
20, but President Morsiâs speech last week offered nothing that would satisfy the people
or the military.
Al-Sisi
said that the constitution rushed into law by Morsi last December would be
suspended, and a balanced constituent assembly would be formed to revise it.
He said
that there will be new presidential and parliamentary elections in the coming
months. Freedom of the press will be guaranteed, he said, and a mechanism
established to allow the youth to be partners in making policy decisions.
The
provisional government has asked the MB to continue to participate in
government. From the MBâs perspective, this must be seen as cynical: You can
participate in our democracy, but only on our terms.
The Egyptian
military isnât showing much respect for pluralism.
They
closed pro-MB television channels and arrested the reporters, though they only
detained them a few hours before releasing them. This move appears to have been
tactical, ensuring that the Brotherhood media could not help get out a call for
resistance to the coup. Then the officers issued arrest warrants for 300 major
figures in the Muslim Brotherhood, and proceeded to detain Morsi and his inner circle.
The mass arrests are troubling, since they have the effect of criminalizing the
Muslim Brotherhood.
From Moon of Alabama:
“western” media are depicting the
conflict as Islamists versus Secularists. But that is the wrong view. The
Egyptian electorate is largely pro-Islam
and pro-Sharia.
The question seems to
be about “how Islamist” and about “how inclusive” versus
“exclusive” the Egyptian government and constitution should be.
The coup was
supported by Al-Azhar, Islamâs highest institute of learning, and by the Salafi
parties which came in second in the last Egyptian election. With broad
religious support, it is very likely that a majority of Egyptians will consent
to what is happening.
So, we will watch the Egyptian people
try to decide between an Islamist government and more pluralist principles.
It is an excellent time to reflect upon
America if it were a nation run by the Ralph Reed’s and Pat Robertson’s of our
land.
We would be assured that Jesus loves us.
The Bible would determine what women should do, should not do, and better damn
well not do.
The last serious attempt by Western
Christians to hold control of large populations ended with an Inquisition.
It was a brutal lesson in governance by religion. Today, Europe still ranks
lowest in the world in share of population with religious belief.
Finally,
it is ironic that many liberal Westerners approve this
military coup which by definition overturns a democracy. It is as if democracy
for Arab states is only OK if it produces the result we want.
Maybe,
since Islamists can’t get Sharia
Law passed in Egypt, we can stop worrying about Sharia law taking over in the
US: Laws prohibiting enacting future laws based on Sharia, or legal interpretations based on Sharia law in our courts, have already passed in North
Carolina, Oklahoma,
and Kansas,
among other states.
Funny about this. I thought that both the Arab Spring and the “green revolution” in the Ukraine were media creations. Still that the “generals” are being cautious suggests that change has occurred.