Muslim Brotherhood Makes It's Move in Egypt (Updated)

During the protest in Egypt, there was some minor concern, dismissed by the administration, that the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) might be playing a role. Some even mentioned concerns about MB’s role in Egyptian politics after the likely fall of Mubarak.  These concerns were also dismissed by the MSM and the administration as being afraid of the boogy-man.

Well, it seems that our concerns might have been with merit.  Due to 30+ years of oppression coming from the Egyptian government, there was no political party structure. Why organize a political party when the elections are rigged? However, the MB does have a structure in which they have been able to slowly move into the vacuum created by the fall of Mubarak and his government.

Who Will Fill the Vacuum?

So who will fill in the vacuum with Mubarak finally heeding calls to step down?  Will Egypt follow the example set by Turkey in the first half of the 20th Century and form a more secular government, with a Constitution that separates the rule of the state from the practice of religion?  Or will in follow the example of Iran, who in 1979 exiled the despotic Shah and replaced him with a despotic theocracy?

In the early half of the 20^th century the Ottoman Empire had essentially collapsed after WW I. While the Sultan of the Ottomans retained some power, a democratic movement was taking hold, with Kemal Ataturk as one of democracies leading proponents, actually resigning his commission in the Ottoman Army to basically lead the Independence movement.  In the early to mid 1920s Turkey emerged from the old Ottoman Empire as an independent secular nation whose constitution borrowed liberally from the constitutions of the nations across Europe. Until very recently, Turkey has been governed with little eye towards Islamic input on governance.

Mubarak Resigns (Who Comes Next?)

Mubarak has resigned as most of you probably already know. I haven’t blogged about this much due to the ever changing conditions in Egypt. Now that one major decision has been made, what happens next? VP Suleiman does take over, most likely backed by the respected military. But happens after that? Do we have an 1979 Iran on our hands and a mid ’00 Palistine with Hamas (Muslim Brotherhood)? Or do we have a Turkey from last century?

In 1979 a hated autocratic ruler was forced out, to be replaced by a democratic system that soon collapsed and allowed the Ayatollah to move in. Iran has been a hard line Theocracy ever since, exporting terrorism for 3+ decades. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood is the most and best organized group and this organization could be the difference maker. The MB even has some tacit approval from the Obama Administration, which is just a completely bad idea.  The MB dudes are bad news, and they have been quite clear on their intentions for both Israel and long range goals.

I'll provide more later.