What Role is the Muslim Brotherhood Playing in Egyptian Protests?
- Posted on January 28, 2011 at 3:56pm by
Meredith Jessup
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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.”


















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Comments (144)
BurntHills
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:49pmbye guys, off to the gas station.. while we still CAN.
Report Post »SND97
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:44pmWell 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 5:48pmGas 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 4:38pmI 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.
Report Post »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.
Ezekiel38
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:37pmYou’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 11:16amthe muslim brotherhood is sunni wheras irans shia they hate each other. its highly unlikely that the brotherhood is subservient to iran
Report Post »Grandpa's Attic
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:37pmEgypt 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 4:37pmI 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 4:33pmIt‘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 »Country
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:32pmYou never want a serious crisis to go to waste.
Report Post »FreedomFighter2006
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:31pmGet 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 »Grandpa's Attic
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:45pmAnd while your at it get a prayer rug and compass as well!!
Report Post »troyvar
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:30pmThey’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
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:38pmSubstitute western culture for democracy, forgot that it is a totalitarian regime.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:29pmWell…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 »RobR
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:23pmLet’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 »JD Carp
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:22pmThe 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 »Punky
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:06pmNothing 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 11:39amNo, 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 4:17pmThe 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 4:13pmHow 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 »YouGottaProblemWithThat
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:10pmRemember Viet Nam and the domino theory? Egypt, Lybia, Tunisia, Yemen, Jordan….etc.
Israel is in big trouble. Second coming soon??
Report Post »Ephraimite
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:10pmThis 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 »grandmaof5
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:09pmMore 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 4:29pmgrandmaof5, 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 »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 »JohnQTaxpayer
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:08pmFarrakhan must be licking his chops, be affraid, very affriad.
or just be armed, nothing says go away like 30.06 autoloader
Report Post »I Believe In American Exceptionalism
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:32pmLOL – 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 »Julio
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:08pmAll 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 4:26pmI 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 »Showtime
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:29pmDrunken Sailors don’t get that drunk. Show some respect!!!
Report Post »nothingbuthetruth
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:37pmright on Julio, gas prices were high to begin with.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:48pmit‘s a sailor’s paycheck to do with AS HE PLEASES…
Report Post »OUR nation‘s money is NOT obama’s personal stash to squander as HE wants.
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 4:08pmRemember 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 »CatB
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:27pmPray 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 4:05pmWhich 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 4:17pmYou 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 4:21pmstacybernardslay, Why don’t we just give them our second amendment instead? We won’t be using it before too long.
Report Post »stacybernardslay
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:52pmNo – 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 4:05pmSounds like out of the pan and in to the fire.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:04pmComing soon to a city street near you………..Not if I can help it!
Report Post »Hisemiester
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:04pmBolten 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 »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:11pmAgreed.
Report Post »davecoolworld
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:45pmDo you think Bolton is our George Washington? President Bolton doesn’t sound bad.
Report Post »hkyfan36
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:04pmCommunity 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 4:11pmI 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 »booger71
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:16pmI have seen reports that police are taking off their uniforms and joining the protesters.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:17pmTaxed, 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…
cheezwhiz
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:27pm@ TexasCommonSense
Report Post »but we still CANNOT use our forces to secure our borders , right ?
NickDeringer
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:28pmMaybe Professor O’Barry is waiting for GWB to call in and tell him what to do?
Report Post »justanamerican
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:29pmThey learned form the best agitator and community organizer, Barry O himself……
Report Post »I see the financial bailout coming from a mile away…..Watch!
TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:30pmcheezwhiz, excellent point!
Report Post »not funny
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:34pmThis 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 4:43pmMB … NBP …. coincidence? Remember our government failed to prosecute.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:44pmObama “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 5:11pmWhere is the United Nations?
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:13pmOur government urges the Egyptian government to turn the internet back on and talks sanctimoniously about the right of free speech, internet, and social websites.
Report Post »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?
TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:25pmgracentruth, LOL! Good one. The UN is totally inept.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:33pmMubarak just stepped down… The craphole just got a new leader in the same old craphole…
EP46
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:40pmThe 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 5:42pmIran
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:48pmThe 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.
Report Post »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.
EP46
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:51pmWhy 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 6:22pmThe 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 »Ezekiel38
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:26pmThe Ummah.
Report Post »what4
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:31pmI’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 12:33amNot 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 »ishka4me
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:34amww#, where were you when it began>?
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:14amI 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
Report Post »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
legendarytwo
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:11amI’d rather have Communists take over than Muslim radicals.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 3:26amThe revolution will be televised.
Report Post »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.
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