Muslim Brotherhood In The Lead As Egyptians Vote In Final Round Of Election

[Purveyor]

The Islamist Muslim Brotherhood was edging on Wednesday toward a dominant role in Egypt's first free parliament in decades, but said it would not impose its will over a new constitution and would work with all political rivals on the blueprint.

Egyptians went to the polls for a second day in the final stage of the election for the assembly's lower house, the first free legislative vote since military officers overthrew the monarchy in 1952.

The vote is part of the ruling army council's plan to hand power to civilians before July, ending their turbulent interregnum that began with the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak in February in a popular uprising.

Welcomed then as heroes who helped nudge the unpopular, autocratic leader from office, the generals now face anger over their handling of protests that left 59 dead since mid-November and an economic crisis that is worsening the plight of the poor.

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http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/muslim-brotherhood-in-the-lead-as-egyptians-vote-in-final-round-of-election-1.405449

[tabatha]

1. The Muslim Brotherhood is not a big scary monster.

They may in fact be good for Egypt.

[loudsue]

2. I don't see ANY religion-affiliated group being much good to rule

any country. Religion, power, politics, billions of dollars that governments control... not good bed-fellows.

[Scootaloo]

3. Ultimately it's up to the people of a nation to determine the governance of that nation

I don't think a government divided between a radical right party and a moderate party is any good for any country, but so far, other Americans seem to accept it.

[SlimJimmy]

4. I don't know. Shariah law is not very kind to women.

The Brotherhood's English language website describes the "principles of the Muslim Brotherhood" as including firstly the introduction of the Islamic Shari`ah as "the basis controlling the affairs of state and society;" and secondly work to unify "Islamic countries and states, mainly among the Arab states, and liberating them from foreign imperialism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood

[tabatha]

5. Brotherhood’s repeated assurances

The shift is, on one level, an acknowledgment of the new political reality here, and indeed around the region, as Islamist groups come to power. Having won nearly half the seats contested in the first two rounds of the country’s legislative elections, the Brotherhood on Tuesday entered the third and final round with a chance to extend its lead to a clear majority as the vote moved into districts long considered strongholds.

The reversal also reflects the administration’s growing acceptance of the Brotherhood’s repeated assurances that its lawmakers want to build a modern democracy that will respect individual freedoms, free markets and international commitments, including Egypt’s treaty with Israel.

And at the same time it underscores Washington’s increasing frustration with Egypt’s military rulers, who have sought to carve out permanent political powers for themselves and used deadly force against protesters seeking an end to their rule.

http://www.mideastmag.com/162036/u-s-accepting-muslim-brotherhood-takeover-of-egypt/

And as for liberating them from foreign imperialism, good for them.

[SlimJimmy]

7. Feel free to *trust* their words, but their past actions betray them. Mark my words, they will

push for the implementation of Shariah law if they gain power.

[tabatha]

8. Of course.

There is Sharia law and there is Sharia law. Go to wiki to learn that it is implemented differently in different countries.

Most Arab revolutionaries want the Turkish model.

[SlimJimmy]

14. I understand the Turkish model, but those in the know say the possibility in Egypt is quite low.

“Perhaps the only example in the Islamic world that transitioned from a sultanese (oligarchic) government to one that approximated Western democracies is Turkey…(which) began with the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 and resulted in the formation of a new government and constitution in 1923.

Because the Young Turks had no such organization as the Muslim Brotherhood to challenge their efforts at westernization, they succeeded in transforming the fledgling Ottoman Empire into a democratic nation they called (today’s) Turkey.

Can a modern-day version of the Young Turks in Tunisia, Libya or Egypt elicit similar results? Of course, only time will tell—but the likelihood is quite low.” [/div class]

“The followers of this Islamist party whose role model is (Turkey’s) Erdogan are wolves in sheep’s clothing. It is impossible to separate Mosque from State in Muhammadan Islam. Sharia will always be imposed by the Mullahs. Sharia is the nemesis of all known human freedoms. [/div class]

“The election results in Tunisia shouldn’t be surprising. The so-called Arab Spring has, almost from the start, been a vehicle for the rise of the Islamists. The terrorist organizations Hamas in the Palestinian Authority and Hizballah in Lebanon were both elected by the people, which raises the question: Are we obligated to support Islamic Jihadists simply because they are elected?” [/div class]

http://specialguests.com/guests/viewnews.cgi?id=EFEAAAupVAVuTZafDJ&style=Full%20Article

[tabatha]

18. "Are we obligated to support Islamic Jihadists simply because they are elected"

Totally wrong. The Jihadists are a very small proportion of Mulsims.

[SlimJimmy]

19. He was referring to Hamas and Hizbolla. You read it out of context.

[EX500rider]

10. "And as for liberating them from foreign imperialism"

What foreign imperialism does Egypt suffer from exactly?

If it's the nearly $2 billion we give them every year, yes, let's liberate them from that crushing imperialism..

[tabatha]

11. Was that not a Carter result -

in exchange for the Israel peace treaty?

[EX500rider]

16. Yes I believe so.

....still, we really have to pay 'em to not attack Israel to the end of time? Not like they have been to successful at it anyway.

[JDPriestly]

6. From what I have read, they were the best organized.

So now the groups that oppose religious intolerance need to organize.

In the end, I believe that religious tolerance will prevail.

It's must be awful to live in a society dominated by religious fundamentalists -- crazies. They will lose when ordinary people begin to feel the repression that religious fundamentalists eventually bring to those around them.

[tabatha]

9. In the end, I believe that religious tolerance will prevail.

I agree - otherwise they are ripe for a second revolution.

[MineralMan]

12. That's not at all surprising.

What is surprising is that anyone expects otherwise. Egypt's population is overwhelmingly Muslim.

[Weisbergkevin]

13. Democracy must be respected

The people spoke.

[SlimJimmy]

15. Refer to the third quote in my previous reply for your answer. Sometimes, Democracy gets it

perfectly wrong.

[EX500rider]

17. Democracy: 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch... (n/t)