Krauthammer Tells Inconvenient Truth About Egypt and Muslim Brotherhood Media are Ignoring
Most of the media were predictably jubilant and giddy on Friday when it was announced that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was stepping down.
Acting as the voice of reason was syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer who on PBS's "Inside Washington" spoke some inconvenient truths about the Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt's similarities to pre-Islamic Revolution Iran that America's press have been dishonestly downplaying for weeks (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Everything said about Egypt - the educated population, the proud history, the long civilization - all of it applies to Iran in 1979 as well, and it ended up hijacked by the Islamists. That’s the threat in Egypt today. The Brotherhood wants the institution of Sharia law. On its website it says that no Christian or woman can be the president of Egypt.
This is not the Salvation Army as described by our director of National Intelligence who ought to be canned for the testimony he gave the other day about how benign and secular an organization it is. It wants the institution of Sharia law. Our job is to strengthen the democrats, of which there are many in Egypt but who need help, organization and assistance so they can challenge the Brotherhood and create a democracy that is actually going to live and not be one man, one vote, one time.
Rather than share this real threat with their readers, listeners, and viewers, America's Obama-loving media have castigated those that have as being right-wing extremists and fear mongers.
But the job of a journalist should be to explore all possibilities of a developing situation rather than just those they either hope will happen for the good of the society or wish for in order to assist a president they support.
For the most part, the coverage of this crisis since the moment it began a little over two weeks ago has been deplorable. From blaming it on former President George W. Bush to tying the unrest to global warming, what we've witnessed from our press has been laughable.
But on the deadly serious side was their almost universal misrepresentation of the Muslim Brotherhood and the real risk of Egypt becoming a radical Islamic theocracy.
However small that risk might be - and there are many that believe it to be extremely possible - the media's responsibility was to constantly explore it.
Instead, with elections less than 21 months away, and a man in the White House the press love, so-called journalists chose to white wash who the Brotherhood are and present to the public nothing but excitement over the thought of Mubarak being thrown out of office.
If the few concerned media members like Krauthammer God forbid end up justified in their worries, this will become another episode when the press completely abdicated their journalistic responsibilities leaving them once again not only on the wrong side of history but also actually having cheerled an outcome with dire consequences for the Middle East and international security.
- Noel Sheppard's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
In other words,
Submitted by RefudiateObama2012 on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:34am.
in other words, CK agrees with Beck. And embarrassingly for CK, he agrees with Palin, too. At least he didn't tell her to leave the room this time before he proceeded to agree with her.
Absolutely correct!
Submitted by Ogundipe S.O. on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 12:37pm.
My point exactly, Glenn Beck was crucified for pointing out the links between the Muslim Brotherhood and all other far left groups saying they will work together for a common purpose no matter how divided they are initially. Then buffoons, like Bill Kristol, believes he's the most brilliant person by writing a very foolish article criticizing Beck, accusing him of conspiracy theory. Then Jennifer Rubin who has been claiming to be a staunch conservative all along penned this article criticizing Beck while backing Kristol, it was as if she woke up with brain disorder given the early hour she rushed to post the article. Rich Lowry also lined behind Kristol calling his attacks on Beck a '' well deserve'' one. The New York Times gave him his birthday gift by proving him just right. I have been wondering why even Newsbuster refused to cover this area for more than a week running. Could it be because Jennifer Rubin is a friend of the house? Perhaps!
Perhaps because he is the enfant terrible of the right?
Submitted by troglodyt on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 12:50pm.
He is asset and nuisance in one person. So from a conservative pov you better leave him alone.
Who?
Submitted by Ogundipe S.O. on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 12:59pm.
Offer specifics
Beck
Submitted by troglodyt on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 1:04pm.
!
"press completely abdicated their journalistic responsibilities"
Submitted by merly1 on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:43am.
Great thread and thoughts.........it is a stunning media decline in the last two years.
Bush deficit and debt = bad but Owebama larger debt and deficit = OK.........Bush war bad but
massive escalation of Afghan land war is hardly covered, sure no photos of those once desired returing coffins...........................Bush 200k job growth bad, Owebama 30k job growth = hope.........it really is like a bad dream, although 11/2/10 gave me hope, but is it too little too late?
Especially, with a media in total denial of what is happening on main street! I really wonder how the press would have played Egypt coverage if W was still in charge, ie a media outcry for a 911 style commission to investigate how we missed this Egyptian regime change........I cant believe people arent more worried about this event as a possible trigger for destabilization of that region,
Not an unusual act
Submitted by BMorgan53 on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 9:01pm.
the media skipped any pretence of due diligence concerning Obama following his debut at the 2004 Democratic Convention, his run for the Senate, and his two year run for the Presidency.
Clapper "Hammered"
Submitted by Boil It Down on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:54am.
It's great that Krauthammer brought up canning Clapper.
The next step that the administration needs to take is to send as many of the most wise, pro-American foreign policy people with the best records of success to work constantly with the Egyptian leadership. Obama needs to stay away from his theoretical, academic type cronies and go with people who have deep experience instead.
What do you bet he sends Jimmy Carter instead? You know...just to insure that Egypt winds up in radical Islamic control. The first thing I would have done two weeks ago is to yank Carter's traveling papers and escort him to a safe facility with no out going communications.
The first dirt bag that hauls Carter out for his views on Egypt needs to be slapped down hard. Although, the comparison between Obama and Carter might wake up a few more people as to Obama's equivalent ineptitude.
“Smart” diplomacy my ***
Submitted by needle on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 3:14pm.
There should be a certain day of the week when Clapper is summoned to a Congressional hearing so he can present for all the nation to see the quality of loopy thinking that underpins this administration’s foreign policy. O’Reilly could then work it into a regular feature of his show, maybe on Thursdays; Friday already is taken with the “dumbest thing of the week.”
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
Hey you never know
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:05pm.
Maybe he'll go to the Middle East and be held hostage. That would be a hoot.
Kinda.
Submitted by Ashrak on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:51am.
No CK - it is not our job to strengthen democrats. It is our job to tell the truth and it is Egyptians job to deide for themselves what path forward they will take. On truth that should be told is that they will be responsible for their decision on the world stage.
The press is absolutely abdicating its responsibility, there is no question about that. That is nothing new. Now is the time for the people, the Arab people, to show the face of Islam to the world they choose. Media all over the world should have THAT as the focus of their story.
More than anything, it is time for Egypt to stand on its own. All aid in the pipeline for this year should reach its destination and that should be the end of it. As We The People look for places to cut our own spending, we just found a cut in the second highest foreign aid bill we have.
It is time for all the world to see the true face of Islam as presented by the Egyptian people in an environment where they have total control over the picture painted. America should not hold a paintbrush there at this time.
What will the Egyptians do?
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 12:19pm.
I was not a little disheartened (for those of you in RIo Linda, that means really disappointed and upset) to see an article about the day after the "victory" that the Egyptians were still in the square waiting for something rather than going home and getting on with their lives.
It reminds me of the bogus inaugeration of DuhOne, it seemed like that crowd needed someone to tell them what to do. That's what I'm seeing with these Egyptians in the circular-shaped square. That's the problem in situations like this, you end up with ne'er-do-wells like the brotherhood who are going to try like hell to take advantage of this moment in time.
-Jon
This is Obama's Iran
Submitted by AgentAmerican on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 12:37pm.
Give it six months...the situation will dilapidate into an Islamic Revolution, and the media will then say: "Egypt...what's that?"
No, no no!
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 1:34pm.
When Egypt goes full blown Islamic koo-koo, with the whole Sharia, beheadings, purges, and Religious police it will be Bush's and the extreme right's fault, maybe even talk radio or Fox News. Wait and see.
You missed it.
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:06pm.
It's all cause of Global Warming.
can't wait
Submitted by ripper58 on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 1:02pm.
for the MB to start tearing down the pyramids and blowing the face off the sphyinx (ala the "Tally Bon")...yeah baby democracy in action!!!!
Think about what they did to the Cairo Museum
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:09pm.
They ripped that head off of two of King Tut's grand parents. They were trying to loot and destroy the most important artifacts for the world and their own heritage.
*
Submitted by Jer on Sun, 02/13/2011 - 12:07am.
delete
Concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood are valid...
Submitted by Jer on Sun, 02/13/2011 - 12:51am.
but I haven't seen any authoritative reports linking the organization with the looting of the Cairo Museum. Indeed, information gathered so far suggests precisely the opposite. The former director of the museum claims it was an inside job by security guards, and the head of the Library of Alexandria praises pro-democracy youths for their efforts in preventing looting and for general security assistance.
Jer
Democracy is not the answer
Submitted by dmaley1714 on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 2:38pm.
a constitutional republic is the answer. a simple majority cannot deny right sin a republic, in a democracy 51% gets it done.
Never will be
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 5:02pm.
A democracy makes it easy for a tyranny to come about. A Constitutional Republic does not....ordinarily, however, this Constitutional Republic is not acting on its own laws against the tyrant we have in the WH when they should be. It makes one wonder if we still have a Constitutional Republic.
I'm trying to keep the faith, especially in the Constitution, but it makes it difficult when people who are sworn to protect it are not protecting it.
-Jon
ties
Submitted by malthus on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 3:41pm.
I'll bet a thousand dollars that the community organizing we see here ties into Barry's animus toward Israel. I wager that is his end game.
I get "creating your own
Submitted by amyshulk on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 3:44pm.
I get "creating your own reality", following The Secret and "wishing it away" is the theme of this administration. That and words mean the opposite in actions.
What I don't get is why the people who posit what COULD happen if we don't remove our blinders/rose colored glasses are marginalized by both sides - as noted Glenn Beck has connected the dots and backed it with what HAS happened - until they finally have to concede the truth.
Is it because we view it through the prism of our society and just can't fathom it? Or is it professional jealousy? I really wish they could remove their egos from this!!!
I've been watching GB for a few years {or whenever he started at Fox} and while I had the same reaction as I do to self help books {well, duh! I already figured that out} on some of what he said, I realized his approach was teaching to the beginners to give them a solid foundation.
I usually DVR him and watch all 5 on the weekend, and while on the one hand his pleas for us to "look it up yourself" smack of the bum trying to get a cig by offering to pay for it in the hopes you'll be more likely to say "Oh, just take one" than if they straight out tried to bum one, I find his connections make intuitive sense.
Ronald Reagan
Secular Muslim Brotherhood (my right toe!)
Submitted by pockets64 on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 4:56pm.
There is a retired military guy whose blog I've been following. He has a heavy political science background, along with his long list of "been there, done that" credits.
Anyway, he sums up the bro-hood rather nicely:
http://www.blitheringon.com/2011/02/understanding-muslim-brotherhood.html
His bro-hood series is a multi-parter and well worth the time.
The media wing of the
Submitted by Cowboy on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 5:15pm.
The media wing of the Democrat Party has to support their party agenda.
Does anybody think that their use of the same words in their talking points is a coincidence?
I skirted this in the OT but
Submitted by bkeyser on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 7:34pm.
I skirted this in the OT but as it pertains to Egypt in particular, I think there's something the [useful idiot] press is leaving out of the equation: indoctrination. Egypt is 90+% Muslim. They'll tell you that they're not radicals; they're peace-loving followers of Allah and rose up in a Tea Party-like power-to-the-people movement. They're just like American conservatives, except, of course, righteous.
But they fail to recognize that the Muslim Brotherhood doesn't have to have a candidate win the next "presidential" election; they don't have to comprise 51% of the parliament; they don't have to be mayors, or cops, or generals to affect their kind of change. They just have to inspire.
The way college professors at Columbia inspire young men and women in America to hate Israel -and America. The way Anwar al-Awlaki inspires his congress on the internet to concoct car bombs, and layer themselves in explosives. The way Saudi Arabia promotes Wahhabism in it's schools and then exports it worldwide. The way Palestinian school children are taught to hate the Jew in their schools and then die in martyrdom. Egypt can follow suit and in a generation have a 100 million+ radical Muslim powerhouse in north Africa.
There's no end to the timetable for radical Islamists, but there's definitely a beginning. I don't know if this is it, but it most certainly could be. I wouldn't want that on my resumé.
BK....LOL, sounds like you heard Coulter's CPAC speech
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 7:39pm.
I tried streaming some of them live, as I waited for Allen West, but the stream was crap. So I listened to Anne Coulter's speech. She was hilarious, and as usual, spot on. Her Q&A was fabulous, the woman can think on her feet, that's for sure.
One kid (CPAC apparently is LOTS of students)..."I'm a conservative, and a journalism student, is there any hope for me finding a job"....To which Anne replied..."sure, take Young Republicans off your resume".
She also hit a couple of other of the high points in your post, but dude, seriously....if you listen to her speech, you'll know why I think your post sounds quite familiar.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
J
Submitted by bkeyser on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 8:30pm.
I didn't hear it, other than her comment about Chris Christy and Mitt Romney. That was classic! I have read several of her books though and she's one tough lady. I admire the hell outta her. And we're both single?...
[edit] Check your email. Please.
Blonde
Submitted by amyshulk on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 10:58pm.
Thanks for the reminder - I just listened to Ann and I concur with her assessment of Romney. If he truly wants to help, he needs to be in the mix, but not as the top dog.
Ronald Reagan
Go Chuck Go
Submitted by BrianBarkley on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:14pm.
Charles is good at making a point. will anyone listen? I take comfort in the fact that our new technology has made the authoritarian's job so much harder than it ever was. If I was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood I would be wondering how to get the genie back into the bottle. I think we are past that point. Freedom is a powerful motivator.