Obama’s message to the Muslim Brotherhood
This bit in Obama’s speech was interesting. It seemed to be a clear reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned-but-tolerated Islamist movement, at least 10 of whose members were reportedly in attendance: [T]here are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the ...
This bit in Obama's speech was interesting. It seemed to be a clear reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned-but-tolerated Islamist movement, at least 10 of whose members were reportedly in attendance:
This bit in Obama’s speech was interesting. It seemed to be a clear reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned-but-tolerated Islamist movement, at least 10 of whose members were reportedly in attendance:
[T]here are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
Message: If you want to be seen as a legitimate political movement and allowed to contest elections fairly, you need to play by the rules. Of course, the same could easily be said of Hosni Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party, which is, er, not so democratic.
UPDATE: Marc Lynch has more on this and other aspects of the speech. "[T]he rollout of the speech already stands as one of the most successful public diplomacy and strategic communications campaigns I can ever remember," he writes.
More from Foreign Policy
Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America
The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.
The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense
If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.
Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War
Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.
How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests
And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
