Senator John Kerry Meets With Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo

[AmPat]

I'm not happy that the Muslim Brotherhood are running things in Eygpt. I do think that perhaps there were legitimate reasons to meet up with them. They're claiming they'll respect the civil rights of those in Egypt. It's important to see if they'll go through with that.

Your God is ecstatic, why aren't you?

[Novaheart]

We don't need games. We need leadership.

Something this current occupant of the WH lacks severely in dealing with Muslim extremeism.

But games is what are played in diplomacy and it doesn't matter which party is in office. Look at the childish routine we have employed with Cuba for decades. We "don't recognize their government" but we send it a rent check for Guantanamo, and they claim they don't cash it. A big deal is made about the new airline service from Florida to Cuba, but there has been a daily flight to and from Cuba for a long time now. Cuba doesn't have an embassy in Washington, but they have a piece of someone else's embassy. It's childish. It's like when TV couple aren't talking to each other and say, "Ask your mother to pass the ketchup."

[AmPat]

But games is what are played in diplomacy and it doesn't matter which party is in office. Look at the childish routine we have employed with Cuba for decades. We "don't recognize their government" but we send it a rent check for Guantanamo, and they claim they don't cash it. A big deal is made about the new airline service from Florida to Cuba, but there has been a daily flight to and from Cuba for a long time now. Cuba doesn't have an embassy in Washington, but they have a piece of someone else's embassy. It's childish. It's like when TV couple aren't talking to each other and say, "Ask your mother to pass the ketchup."

Citing all the games you can dredge up is hardly a winning argument for continuing the games.

[Odysseus]

Muslim Brotherhood Spiritual Guide Yusuf Al-Qardawi: Islamic Law Should Be Implemented Gradually in Egypt, There Should Be No Chopping Off of Hands In The First Five Years…

I guess that makes him a moderate.

Ignorant doesn't begin to describe you. Keeping the lines of communication open doesn't mean giving an inch. Israel does talk to Egypt you ignoramus. Are we through calling each other names for the night?

Those lines of communication are closing fast. The Brotherhood ran on a campaign promise to abrogate the peace treaty with Israel.

So do all the things said in this thread change the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood are currently in charge of Eygpt? I really think we have a better chance of getting through to them with diplomacy than with blasting them out. Threaten to take away our money and I bet a lot of Muslim Brotherhood people might think twice.

BTW, why is Kerry bad for doing this, but GWB isn't bad for being buddies with Saudi leaders? You think they aren't radical Muslims in the leadership who hate America?

The Muslim Brotherhood doesn't run Egypt yet. The army does, and the degree of control that is ceded to the Brotherhood is very much up in the air. The army is, for the most part, pro-US (we trained their leadership), and is willing to maintain the status quo with Israel, while the Brothers are virulently anti-American and seek to engulf the Middle East in war. Kerry is meeting with a factional party that is diametrically opposed to us and lending them the legitimacy of contact with the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In other words, he is boosting the standing of the Brotherhood within Egypt and internationally. Bush's meetings with sitting monarchs isn't the same thing as Kerry endorsing a domestic faction in Egyptian politics.

But games is what are played in diplomacy and it doesn't matter which party is in office. Look at the childish routine we have employed with Cuba for decades. We "don't recognize their government" but we send it a rent check for Guantanamo, and they claim they don't cash it. A big deal is made about the new airline service from Florida to Cuba, but there has been a daily flight to and from Cuba for a long time now. Cuba doesn't have an embassy in Washington, but they have a piece of someone else's embassy. It's childish. It's like when TV couple aren't talking to each other and say, "Ask your mother to pass the ketchup."

Agreed. We ought to have cut Cuba off completely and put all of our resources behind the opposition when the Soviet Union collapsed. The thought of Castro dying peacefully in bed, unlike so many of his victims, is disgusting.

[Hawkgirl]

The Muslim Brotherhood doesn't run Egypt yet. The army does, and the degree of control that is ceded to the Brotherhood is very much up in the air. The army is, for the most part, pro-US (we trained their leadership), and is willing to maintain the status quo with Israel, while the Brothers are virulently anti-American and seek to engulf the Middle East in war. Kerry is meeting with a factional party that is diametrically opposed to us and lending them the legitimacy of contact with the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In other words, he is boosting the standing of the Brotherhood within Egypt and internationally. Bush's meetings with sitting monarchs isn't the same thing as Kerry endorsing a domestic faction in Egyptian politics.

Ding ding ding...We have a winner!

[Odysseus]

Ding ding ding...We have a winner!

I do try. :D

[Hawkgirl]

I do try. :D

Nah, I think it comes naturally for you...