Some US Diplomats & Politicians Think MB = “Moderate” Brotherhood - They Should Think Twice

By Bill West

Much has recently been reported, including here in the CT Blog by Andrew Cochran today, about the international Islamist movement Muslim Brotherhood (MB), founded and based in Egypt, and its involvement with and support for radical fundamentalist Islamic organizations around the world. Much has also been reported about the MB increasingly being viewed by some in the diplomatic and political arenas as an alleged moderate force in the Muslim world and how it should be regarded as an entity to be politically engaged in a positive way. The MB is outlawed in Egypt, though it remains the dominant opposition political force in that country. Even some US diplomats and politicians have called for dialogue with the Brotherhood. Reportedly, elements of the US Government have actually engaged in direct contacts with MB leadership.

Today, a report surfaced in Adnkronos International (AKI) concerning a new terrorist group in Iraq calling itself “Iraqi Hamas.” Iraqi Hamas has apparently claimed responsibility for attacking and bringing down a US helicopter in Baghdad on Tuesday. The AKI report goes on to state that Iraqi Hamas is believed to be linked to the Islamist party in the Iraqi parliament (serious in its own right) and to the local branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Clearly, these reports are worthy of further investigation and presumably the US military and Intelligence agencies are doing just that. That an operationally active terrorist organization in Iraq that has attacked US military personnel may have links to the Muslim Brotherhood should not surprise serious counter-terrorism professionals. Those US diplomats and politicians who believe the Muslim Brotherhood should be engaged as a peace partner should consider reports as the one just noted in AKI and all the available Intelligence material that surely exists related to this issue.

TrackBack