National Journal:
NJ Egypt’s criminal trials of American and other nongovernment workers strained ties with Washington this year. Did you sense a shift in the relationship?KERRY I did. There’s a lot of tension. Egypt is really at risk, hanging in the balance of the outcome of the presidential election and the direction the Muslim Brotherhood decides to go. If the brotherhood doesn’t embrace basic laws of economics and attract capital back to the country, it’s very hard to see how you turn your economy around if everyone is scared of the instability.NJ You supported Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s decision to allow military aid to go to Cairo, but you also warned Egypt not to take anything for granted.KERRY I told the Egyptians very clearly, “We think this relationship is important.” We wanted to act in good faith so they recognize that we’re willing to honor our commitments, and we expect them to. If they don’t, then everything is up for grabs. No question about it. If they suddenly pull out the rug on the peace treaty with Israel, if they put in place very restrictive laws, if they’re not able to do the International Monetary Fund loan, then we’re going to have to question what we’re doing.NJ What do you make of the role of the Muslim Brotherhood, which now holds a majority in parliament?KERRY We have to find a way to hopefully be able to work with them. If they make it impossible because they adopt policies that we find really unacceptable to our basic value system—that’s really a problem. We’re providing this assistance now because we need to make it clear we’re prepared to have a good relationship. If we suddenly cut it off, we’d be sending a horrendous message that basically says, “Screw you, we’re out of here.” And they’ll turn around and say, “There’s no reason to even think about the United States. Let’s go work with Iran or whoever it’s going to be.” So we’d be cutting off our nose to spite our face in that sort of self-righteous early approach.
That’s backwards. If the new gov there (the MB+even more salafi Salafists) wants a realtionship (which I doubt goes any further than getting $ from us) it is THEY who must do things.
NJ Are you hopeful about the prospects of working with them?KERRY I am hopeful. Not because I believe I can take to the bank everything they say—but because everything they say is better than what they could be saying. They’re talking about pluralism, diversity, protecting minority rights, and understanding they can’t put an Islamic extreme regimen in place because it would be counter to a lot of Egypt’s culture.
Counter to Egypt’s Culture?
Has this Gavone Supreme even HEARD of Sayd Qutb?
Hi Epa.
ReplyDeleteI've been keeping and eye on his visit, trying to find anything from his visit on the 'ikwhan' website, nothing , nada , that should be a sign on the wall that something isn't right.Usually they broadcast foreign visits with the megaphone, this time nothing.
Someone is hiding something.
Good point, Will. That is very interesting. And perhaps frightening.
ReplyDeleteThis admin, and it progressive LEADERS, are ANXIOUS for the MB and salafis to take control and then announce THIS is the democratic alternative to the war on terror and that before you know it, Hassan Al Banna's children will be just like Walter Reuther and Henry Jackson.
ReplyDeleteBut they don't believe it themselves. They know and expect a different world, but they cannot possibly say it.
And HE'S going to be Hillary's replacement as SOS if Obama is reelected??
ReplyDelete