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Engaging the Muslim Brotherhood

(Weekly Standard) Eric Trager - Rather than put conditions on America's generous package of economic and military aid, the U.S. has often appeared to believe that through deeper engagement, it can build friendlier relations with the Muslim Brotherhood and convince it to soften its hostile, intolerant views. A new RAND report, "The Muslim Brotherhood, Its Youth, and Implications for U.S. Engagement," states: "Engagement offers both sides an opportunity to dispel misunderstandings." However, the argument for engaging the Brotherhood ignores some important facts. The Brotherhood is a deeply ideological outfit with a historically anti-Western outlook. It seeks to establish an Islamic state in Egypt, has long opposed Egypt's peace treaty with Israel, and holds deeply intolerant views towards religious minorities. Young members are subjected to a rigorous five-to-eight-year process of internal promotion, repeatedly tested on their completion of the Brotherhood's educational curriculum. Closed, theocratic organizations do not become moderate when they are embraced unconditionally. They moderate when they are being squeezed and find themselves without other options. The writer is a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2012-11-06 00:00:00
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