World

What Role is the Muslim Brotherhood Playing in Egyptian Protests?

So far, demonstrators in Egypt have protested against poor living standards and authoritarian rule. But, as the New York Times is reporting, religion may soon play an increasingly integral roll in mobilizing anti-government forces:

With organizers calling for demonstrations after Friday prayer, the political movement will literally be taken to the doorsteps of the nation’s mosques. And as the Egyptian government and security services brace for the expected wave of mass demonstrations, Islamic groups seem poised to emerge as wildcards in the growing political movement. …

Heightening the tension, the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest organized opposition group in the country, announced Thursday that it would take part in the protest. The support of the Brotherhood could well change the calculus on the streets, tipping the numbers in favor of the protesters and away from the police, lending new strength to the demonstrations and further imperiling President Hosni Mubarak’s reign of nearly three decades.

“Tomorrow is going to be the day of the intifada,” said a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood here in Egypt’s second largest city, who declined to give his name because he said he would be arrested if he did. The spokesman said that the group was encouraging members of its youth organization — roughly those 15 to 30 years old — to take part in protests.

On Friday, Egyptian police authorities rounded up a number of members of the Brotherhood, including at least eight senior leaders of the group in anticipation of a larger nation-wide protest planned for Saturday.

A security source confirmed to Reuters that authorities had ordered a crackdown on the banned group overnight: “We have orders for security sweeps of the Brotherhood.”

In addition, the Egyptian government has issued warnings to youth demonstrators not to allow the Muslim Brotherhood to use the protests to push their own “hidden agenda.”

Also on Friday, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton offered his own thoughts on the precarious situation facing Egypt and the potential ramifications of the Brotherhood’s involvement.

“I think what’s clearly happened today [in  Egypt] is that the Muslim Brotherhood, the radical Islamist party in Egypt has called it’s supporters into the street,” Bolton told Fox News.

“I think after the Friday prayers the Brotherhood brought its people out. That’s why the protests are even more extensive today. That constitutes no doubt about it a direct threat to the military government, and I think the failure of the other security forces to bring the demonstrations under control also now explains the presence of the military.”

“I think the question is whether and to what extent the Muslim Brotherhood and radical Islamists have infiltrated the leadership. If the military holds firm it’s entirely possible, although bloody, that the government can hold onto power,” Bolton continued.

“I don’t think we have evidence yet that these demonstrations are necessarily about democracy. You know the old saying, ‘one person, one vote, one time.‘ The Muslim Brotherhood doesn’t care about democracy, if they get into power you’re not going to have free and fair elections either.”

Comments (144)

  • BurntHills
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:49pm

    bye guys, off to the gas station.. while we still CAN.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • SND97
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:44pm

    Well Barry will get his $6.00+ a gallon of gas wish now. I’m filing bankrupcy so we can simply drive to work and eat freaking rice cakes. How did this man become President with 2 years experience as a simple Senator????

    Report Post »  
    • EP46
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:48pm

      Gas prices will be the least of our problems if the Muslims take over Egypt and move into the Gaza strip. There will be war with Israel and we are not sure what obama would do in a situation like that. We must pray and ask God’s protection on Israel.

      Report Post »  
  • FedUpAlready
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:38pm

    I pray for the enlightenment of the people of Egypt, and, Iran, that they maybe bringing. about the Apocalpse.As, President Ahminijad of Iran, is a 12ver a believer in the 12th Imam, or Mujadi (messiah) coming,, he feels he’s, responsible for ushering him back, to rule over a one religion world, controlled by a caliphate. Shiites, believe, where Sunni‘s don’t and some Arab countries are rather indifferent. I bothers me greatly that the Muslim Brotherhood maybe among the 12vers, and come under the control of Mullahs and the Ayotollah of Iran. Enpower yourself through knowledge, as to what’s really going on in the Middle East.
    Read some books by Joel Rosenberg, watch the Rumor of War on The Glenn Beck site, and most of all pray for the enlightenment of all of mankind, To not follow these extremists, down the road to annilihilation and the end of times.

    Report Post » FedUpAlready  
    • Ezekiel38
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:37pm

      You’ll have even more beef in “God’s War on Terror” by Walid Shoebat!

      Remember Isaiah 19:1&2 “Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt. And I will set Egyptians against Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor: city against city, kingdom against kingdom”. Christ comes to fight Egypt because the Antichrist will occupy Egypt. “And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel Lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, says the Lord, the Lord of Hosts” Isaiah 19:4. This is also confirmed in Daniel 11:42 “He, the Antichrist shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not Escape”. Christ will ultimately rescue a remnant of Egypt from the Antichrist: “In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of Hosts; one shall be called the city of destruction”. Amazing!

      Report Post »  
    • tompaineknowsthescore
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 11:16am

      the muslim brotherhood is sunni wheras irans shia they hate each other. its highly unlikely that the brotherhood is subservient to iran

      Report Post » tompaineknowsthescore  
  • Grandpa's Attic
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:37pm

    Egypt needs more freedom, not more restrictions, the Muslim Brotherhood will bring more oppression and I do not think this is where the people of Egypt want to go. Open up the internet to their people, that needs to go.

    Report Post »  
  • Stratocaster
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:37pm

    I think PBO should fly over there on Air Force one right away and sprinkle some pixy dust on them!

    Report Post »  
  • santramir
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:33pm

    It‘s Yahweh’s will, the anger of sara, mother of isaac, brother of ishmael, seems that muslim and jewish fight will last forever. . Jesus !!!

    Report Post » santramir  
  • Country
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:32pm

    You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.

    Report Post »  
  • FreedomFighter2006
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:31pm

    Get your pray on everyone… That‘s about the only way we can make an impact here in the US on what’s going on over there.

    Report Post » FreedomFighter2006  
  • troyvar
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:30pm

    They’ve tasted democracy in Egypt, think they would really choose an 800 year old caliphate? You can take the boy out of the Ji-hood…but can you take the Ji-hood out of the boy?

    Report Post » troyvar  
    • troyvar
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:38pm

      Substitute western culture for democracy, forgot that it is a totalitarian regime.

      Report Post » troyvar  
  • AzDebi
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:29pm

    Well…this could be a learning experience for us…although they will be going from a Totalitarian government to Sharia Law through the Muslim Brotherhood…this is exactly what the Progressives want to bring to the U.S….now you can sit back and watch how smooth a transition this will actually be…Sharia Law is so TOLERANT!…But…I think we’ll be more like France in that regard…Sharia Law was just slowly introduced there and then with a 9 to 1 advantage in their proliferation rate…the Muslims have won! Another lesson for us! Sharia Law has no place in our country! The Progressive PC policies are slowly killing us! Wake up America!

    Report Post » AzDebi  
  • RobR
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:23pm

    Let’s ask Barack. As it turns out, like so many others around the world, this Egyptian organization is his HALF muslim BROTHER hood. Who would have guessed that one?

    You’d be surprised…….really.

    Report Post » Barack Must Go  
  • JD Carp
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:22pm

    The protest was started by people with legitimate anger over the lack of freedom and oppressive government. The Muslim brotherhood and the anarchists have jumped on the coat tails with the intent of taking center stage and forcing sharia law in Egypt. We should be backing Mubarek and at the same time asking him for open, free elections before the Muslims, using this “crisis” as a vehicle to take over.

    We are facing similar problems here in the USA> The progressives coupled with the Black Panthers, anarchists and communists want this here. “Top down, bottom up, inside out!”

    Report Post » JD Carp  
    • Punky
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:06pm

      Nothing creeped me out this past year, more than Van Jones almost whispering “top down, bottom up, inside out,” like he was trying to be seductive or something. I felt like a snake was crawling into my bed when I heard him say that. Heebie jeebies!

      Report Post »  
    • frgough
      Posted on January 31, 2011 at 11:39am

      No, the riots started because young people weren’t getting their chicken in every pot and guaranteed job like they were promised. Freedom has very little to do with it.

      Report Post »  
  • abc
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:17pm

    The attraction of radical Islam is in large part based upon the lack of adequate political and economic opportunity for the people of Egypt. I don’t see how you separate the terrible living conditions in the country with the effort by Muslim Brotherhood to capitalize upon them. This is like the toppling of the Shah in Iran, where a bad dictator installed unjustly by the US finally fell under popular upheaval that Islamic leaders deftly channeled. Now, that country is worse off than before, but the people still hate us as much as they dislike their Islamic government. When will the US learn that you cannot ignore the failure of despots to provide economic and political opportunity for its people because you want to have a controllable and stable ally? After 9/11 we heard our leaders say that we could no longer tolerate dicators because their policies created footsoldiers for Al Qaeda, but now we are forgetting that lesson already. This time, the US ought to be seen as promoting democracy even if the power emerging out of the uprising is not another puppet of the American government. Forget speeches and wars. That would be truly how you win hearts and minds in that part of the world.

    Report Post »  
  • GODSAMERICA
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:13pm

    How much of this will go on until even the liberals admit that this is not a religion of peace in no way shape or form.

    Report Post » GODSAMERICA  
  • YouGottaProblemWithThat
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:10pm

    Remember Viet Nam and the domino theory? Egypt, Lybia, Tunisia, Yemen, Jordan….etc.

    Israel is in big trouble. Second coming soon??

    Report Post » YouGottaProblemWithThat  
  • Ephraimite
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:10pm

    This looks like the end of American influence in the world. Egypt is going to fall to Islamic jihadists, and this will be a beginning of other governments in the middle east to fall as well. The West is going to be between a Chinese hammer and a Jihadist anvil in the future.

    Report Post » Ephraimite  
  • grandmaof5
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:09pm

    More to the point, what role is Spooky Dude playing. If the devil has his hands in this it wouldn‘t surprise me if George wasn’t helping stir the cauldron.

    Report Post »  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:29pm

      grandmaof5, I would bet you’re right. I’m sure someone will be calling us paranoid right-wing whackos before too long. I wouldn‘t think like this if he hadn’t done it before, and thought it was fun doing it.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:03pm

      @Grandmaof5

      This particular event may not be of Spooky Dudes making, look towards Iran for their hand in this area of the world; most likely though, Soros has found out ahead of time about it, and is poised to make a move in the area and/or on the commodities and currencies linked via the region.

      That is one key way to see what he is doing, watch where the money trail leads.

      His finances are also the only weakness old Spooky Dude truly has.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • JohnQTaxpayer
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:08pm

    Farrakhan must be licking his chops, be affraid, very affriad.

    or just be armed, nothing says go away like 30.06 autoloader

    Report Post » JohnQTaxpayer  
    • I Believe In American Exceptionalism
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:32pm

      LOL – nothing says “hit the road” like a Browning M2. Happy trails to you, Mohammed and all the rest of your radical Islamic Jihadists in the Brotherhood.

      Report Post » I Believe In American Exceptionalism  
  • Julio
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:08pm

    All this termoil will cause oil prices to sky rocket. Then the government will blame the upcomming crazy inflation on oil prices and not the real cause, PRINTING MONEY like a drunken sailor. Watch and see.

    Report Post »  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:26pm

      I filled up toady, just in case. I dreamt last week I went to the gas station and it was suddenly $5.20 per gallon. If the Strait of Hormuz gets shut down, or even disrupted, that may become reality.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • Showtime
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:29pm

      Drunken Sailors don’t get that drunk. Show some respect!!!

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • nothingbuthetruth
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:37pm

      right on Julio, gas prices were high to begin with.

      Report Post »  
    • BurntHills
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:48pm

      it‘s a sailor’s paycheck to do with AS HE PLEASES…
      OUR nation‘s money is NOT obama’s personal stash to squander as HE wants.

      Report Post » BurntHills  
    • Ezekiel38
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:32pm

      @ TEXASCOMMONSENSE. You are spot on! We know that they will close the Strait of Hormuz. When? I do not know. Turkey will then open the Straits of Dardanelles and Bosphorus!

      Report Post »  
  • YouGottaProblemWithThat
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:08pm

    Remember Viet Nam and the domino effect…. Egypt, Lybia, Tunisia, Sudan and then Yemen… Isael you are in trouble for sure…

    Second coming maybe soon.

    Report Post » YouGottaProblemWithThat  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:27pm

      Pray for Israel

      Report Post »  
    • fist_of_fury
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 11:28pm

      @UGOTTAPROBLEM…I’m aware of Laos situtation during the Vietnam conflict. The citizens were very unhappy with the corrupt gov’t and the red commies offered an alternative and promised them whatever they wanted (supposedly). What emerged is a freakin’ Communist state where they killed all oppositions as millions of refugees fled. I’ve heard horror stories about those times. Laos is nothing but a puppet to Vietnam’s communist state. The Domino Theory occurred for sure. Oh, and there was the Pol Pot situation, but I don’t wanna remind myself the horrors people endured in Cambodia.

      Report Post »  
  • stacybernardslay
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:05pm

    Which is why we should send one (1) bolt action rifle, of any calibre larger than .22, along with fifty (50) rounds that accompany it, to each and every citizen of egypt – nothing stops dictators and strongmen faster than that.

    Report Post »  
    • Buck Bagaw
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:17pm

      You send yours, I’ll keep mine within reach. No matter who prevails in Egypt, they won’t be a friend of ours.

      Report Post »  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:21pm

      stacybernardslay, Why don’t we just give them our second amendment instead? We won’t be using it before too long.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • stacybernardslay
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:52pm

      No – I am not saying we send them citizens weapons, ours are too nice. The U.S. sends Egypt like 1.5 billion every year – that would buy a lotta rifles. We have to support individual freedom guys, this crap where we allow our government to support dictators, kings and princes (lookin at you Saudi Arabia) HAS TO STOP. What did Jimmy Carters support for the Shah of Iran get us?

      Report Post »  
  • Docrow
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:05pm

    Sounds like out of the pan and in to the fire.

    Report Post » Docrow  
  • DagneyT
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:04pm

    Coming soon to a city street near you………..Not if I can help it!

    Report Post » DagneyT  
  • Hisemiester
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:04pm

    Bolten was right. One thing I might add. If you want to know what the muslim brotherhood has to do with the rioting is to ask their brother, our own president Obama.

    Report Post »  
  • hkyfan36
    Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:04pm

    Community organization at its best. I wonder if Barry will take a flight over to help organize, seeing as how that is what he does best.

    Report Post »  
    • Lantern
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:11pm

      I guess it will ultimately be up to the Egyptian people. Do they want freedom badly enough, or do they want an oppressive Islamic regime?

      Report Post » Lantern  
    • booger71
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:16pm

      I have seen reports that police are taking off their uniforms and joining the protesters.

      Report Post » booger71  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:17pm

      Taxed, the US government can not use the military against its citizens. We have The Posse Comitatus Act, passed on June 18, 1878.

      Oh, wait, wasn’t that recently changed?

      The President may employ the armed forces… to… restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition… the President determines that… domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order… or [to] suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy if such… a condition… so hinders the execution of the laws… that any part or class of its people is deprived of a right, privilege, immunity, or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law… or opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws.

      Yep…

      TexasCommonSense  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:27pm

      @ TexasCommonSense
      but we still CANNOT use our forces to secure our borders , right ?

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • NickDeringer
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:28pm

      Maybe Professor O’Barry is waiting for GWB to call in and tell him what to do?

      Report Post » NickDeringer  
    • justanamerican
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:29pm

      They learned form the best agitator and community organizer, Barry O himself……
      I see the financial bailout coming from a mile away…..Watch!

      Report Post » justanamerican  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:30pm

      cheezwhiz, excellent point!

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • not funny
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:34pm

      This will become another Muslim stronghold in the Middle East. We are in big trouble–thanks for nothing Obama administration. You talked a good game about making the world a better place, but the reality is that things have gotten worse in the last two years.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:43pm

      MB … NBP …. coincidence? Remember our government failed to prosecute.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:44pm

      Obama “civilian” security force?

      Report Post »  
    • touch
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:09pm

      “Rule one: Never allow a crisis to go to waste,” Mr. Rahm Emanuel said in an interview on Sunday. “They are opportunities to do big things.”

      Report Post »  
    • gracentruth
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:11pm

      Where is the United Nations?

      Report Post » gracentruth  
    • Independent Tess
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:13pm

      Our government urges the Egyptian government to turn the internet back on and talks sanctimoniously about the right of free speech, internet, and social websites.
      While at the same time Obama and his minions try to quietly push through a bill that will allow Obama to shut off the our internet should he feel it necessary.
      Wonder how they justify that?

      Report Post » Independent Tess  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:25pm

      gracentruth, LOL! Good one. The UN is totally inept.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:33pm

      Mubarak just stepped down… The craphole just got a new leader in the same old craphole…

       
    • EP46
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:40pm

      The Egyptian government MUST not let the Muslim Brotherhood take control. If they manage to do so, it will be the destruction of Israel. This is a supreme threat to the entire world. Pray that the people will stop and that the Muslim insurgents will not take over the government and then move into the Gaza strip and start war with Israel.

      Report Post »  
    • Nostraquedeo
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:42pm

      Iran

      Report Post »  
    • The Gooch
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:48pm

      The White House is hedging its bets and not committing to anything. Call it wise, call it politics as usual. I am becoming irritated with hearing “this is a powder keg.” Uh, yeah. It’s the Middle East so a descriptor like “powder keg” is redundant. Gotta love reporting that states the obvious.
      As I post this, the president of Egypt is conceding to the pressure. Folks, this is one of those moments in history that’s exciting and scary as hell. NO ONE can predict where this is going to lead the world; any statement now is supposition. Mubarak is probably having visions of Mussolini flash thru his head while Israel waits with what I suspect to be grim resolve. Let’s hope for the best and prepare for the worst, ’cause this is a BIG deal. Lots of people eager to fill this coming void and some of those people are wack job zealots. Oh boy.

      Report Post »  
    • EP46
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:51pm

      Why did the community organizer not get the AMERICANS out of Egypt yesterday or this morning ? He should have immediately protected all Americans in Egypt and had them on the first plane out. We cannot have another hostage situation like with Jimmy Carter. WHY did they not remove the Americans from the Embassy before it got so dangerous ???

      Report Post »  
    • Ookspay
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:22pm

      The actors and jesters are here
      The stage is in darkness and clear
      they’re raising the curtain and no-one’s quite certain
      Whose play it is
      How long ago, how long?
      If only we had listened then
      If we’d know just how right
      We were going to be
      For we dreamed a lot
      And we schemed a lot
      And we tried to sing of love before
      The stage fell apart

      If everyone was listening, you know
      There’d be a chance that we could save the show
      Who’ll be the last clown to bring the house down?
      Oh no, please no, don’t let the curtain fall

      Well, what is your costume today?
      Who are the props in your play?
      You’re acting the part which you thought
      From the start was an honest one
      Well, how do you plead?
      An actor indeed! Go re-learn your lines
      You don‘t know what you’ve done
      The finale’s begun…

      Supertramp – Crime of the Century

      Report Post » Ookspay  
    • Ezekiel38
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:26pm

      The Ummah.

      Report Post »  
    • what4
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:31pm

      I’m sure they have the number to Barrys Blackberry! On Speed-dial!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Pocono Countryboy
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:12pm

      “EP46
      Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:40pm

      The Egyptian government MUST not let the Muslim Brotherhood take control. If they manage to do so, it will be the destruction of Israel. This is a supreme threat to the entire world. Pray that the people will stop and that the Muslim insurgents will not take over the government and then move into the Gaza strip and start war with Israel.”

      Umm..every time the arabs tried that in the past. Israel kicked them to the curb and made them look like rank amateurs…why would you expect this time to be any different?

      Report Post »  
    • kindling
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 12:33am

      Not only is it what he does best, but it is for and with those he loves best too. I wish he would go on over tomorrow.

      Report Post » kindling  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:34am

      ww#, where were you when it began>?

      Report Post »  
    • StonyBurk
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:14am

      I was just saying What role does the Muslim Brotherhood have in the Obamanation of this Administration?

      Report Post »  
    • OutOfTheAether
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 1:54pm

      @Pocono
      A few pertinent points would answer your question: 1) before, Israel only had to fight one bunch of Arabs at a time. 2) the world stage was different 3) a Nuclear and belligerent Iran was wasn’t in the mix just chomping at the bit to remove them from the map 4) and more important, the world’s time is growing short – 24th chapter of Matthew

      Report Post » OutOfTheAether  
    • legendarytwo
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:11am

      I’d rather have Communists take over than Muslim radicals.

      Report Post »  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 3:26am

      The revolution will be televised.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • frgough
      Posted on January 31, 2011 at 11:35am

      @Lantern. They don’t want freedom. They are pitching a fit because the socialist government hasn’t given them a chicken in their pot. Mark my words.

      Report Post »  

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