(Washington Post) Condoleezza Rice - The Muslim Brotherhood represents the most organized political force in Egypt. Mubarak always said that the choice was between him and the Brotherhood, and he pursued policies that fulfilled that prophecy. While many decent, more secular political leaders were harassed and jailed by the regime, the Brotherhood organized in the mosques and provided social services the regime could not. It will take time to level the playing field. Egyptians are not Iranians, and it is not 1979. Egypt's institutions are stronger and its secularism deeper. The United States should support the forces of democracy, not because they will be friendlier to us but because they will be friendlier to their own people. The writer was secretary of state from 2005 to 2009.
2011-02-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive