In comments that will likely relieve Western concerns that the group would use its considerable popular influence to compete for power in a free election in Egypt, the banned Muslim Brotherhood has ruled out fielding a candidate for the office of president today, and insists it has no designs on any particular cabinet positions.
A statement issued today by the group said that “the clear popular desire (is) that Egypt be a civilian-ruled, democratic state” and that they would also support this position. They did however offer to play an additional role in negotiating the end of the Mubarak regime.
Though officially banned and openly persecuted, the Muslim Brotherhood is hugely popular in Egypt, and its official support for the growing protest movement dramatically swelled its numbers overnight, though it also fueled allegations from Mubarak supporters that the faction would attempt an Iran-style cleric-dominated government.
Despite the group’s apparent good faith in the revolution, the Obama Administration continues to refuse to have any contacts with the organization, and has promised that they will not “recognize” the Muslim Brotherhood as a legitimate political participant. This may only be a rhetorical position, however, as clearly if the US had its way there would never have been a revolution in the first place, and they don’t appear to hold particular sway with other opposition factions either.
Of course they won't field a candidate they will back El Baradei.The MB will not be the face of Egypt they will be behind the scenes.
I'm not sure if I bleieve you Jason. Glenn Beck, the obly man who truly knows the future before it even happens, said the Muslim Brotherhood will take over the whole middle east.
I say the MB is selling itself short- they need to forge ahead and do the right thing for Egypt: field a candidate (or cadidates) for leadership positions, including the Presidency, in the post-Mubarak vaccum of power. The USG can bitch and moan all it wants about the MB not being 'legitimate' but it's none of our business (unless one considers Israel's pulling the Washington puppet strings to be 'our business'). Unless ALL parties and candidates are given a fair shot at leadership positions in fair and honest elections, there can be no democracy, no matter how you paint it. The US has no legitimate claim to Egypt's government, and it should step back and let the Egyptian people sort things out for themselves. All we need to do is accept their elections as binding and make peaceful overtures to the new Egyptian government in whatever form it takes. I urge the MB to reverse its position and go for the gusto in the elections; if they are successful it will be up to Washington and Tel Aviv to decide which side of history they are going to be on: Democracy or Dictators. Sadly, I believe I already know the answer regardless of what happens in Egypt.
1- The People of Egypt is not a Muslim awakening nor is a communist revolution lead by Stalinism dictatorial working party movement.., this and all other uprisings that’s happening is the peoples voice from all part of a society which been sick and tired of a regime and a ruling political party that been nothing but a family affairs working for family and its family members selling the Egyptians to higher bidder , this uprising and every other country in Middle East and north Africa is the basic demands by the people and from the people is in line with the principals in democracy and the Egyptian peoples demands are just that. So if you or any other personality willing to sidetrack the peoples will by advertising for one or the other social or political movement then you are out of line and don’t understand the principals in democracy or not willing to participate in process.
2-The very same mistakes were made in Iranian (1979) peoples uprising by those who thought that Islam would save them from a dictatorial regime.., later they understood that the very same dictatorial regime was forced upon them with a different name. people uprising in Iran and their beliefs’.., their weaknesses were used against them, now you are saying the same thing, Muslim brotherhood, or Jewish brotherhood or democratic brotherhood is a logo of a dictatorial regime which will force their will and their ideology or if you will their religious principals on the people.., the question is a matter of time.., which as in Iran and Iraq.., been showing their true face.., here.., forget about Jalal Talabany being Iraq president, Husni Mubarak is the leader of the Egypt National democratic party or something in that sense.., look what he have done to the country or for that matter look at the record of the Iranian Islamic Republic.., here the question is: where is the democracy in Egypt and where is the voice of republic in Iran , so don’t play with names and don’t play “politics” but rather see the reality and above all listen to people voice.
In typically western bureaucratise, Members of Congress, Murdoch's media mavens continue to demonize that of which they illinformed. The Muslim Brotherhood has a record on non-violence spanning decades. They have declared that they will not field a candidate in any upcoming presidential election. Yet, they have a voice that resonates with the people of Egypt no doubt due to their many social programs and the fact that al-Qaeda and they have been and are estranged politiucally and ideaologically.
This seems, however, not enough for FOX commentators and others in the main-stream media cum/informational Ministry who continue to demonize anyone or anything which carries or confers the label…Muslim/Islam.