20 Jan Senator Kirk warn about consequences of the Egyptian revolution
Senator Kirk speaks about 3 stages of the Egytian revolution
Mr. President, more than two months ago, a popular uprising in Egypt swept President Hosni Mubarak from power after 30 years in office. The Egyptian military is now charged with reforming that country’s political system, in preparation for parliamentary and presidential elections.
History teaches us that this sort of transition happens in three phases – not just two. First the dictator falls. Next follows a weak interim government. And only then does the final government enter the scene.
We remember the French Revolution: first the fall of Louis XVI – then the hopefulness of the interim French First Republic – and finally the rise of Napoleon.
We remember the October Revolution: first the fall of the Czar – then the hopefulness of the interim Kerensky Government – and finally the rise of the Soviet Union.
And, most recently, we remember Iran: first the fall of the Shah – then the hopefulness of the interim Bakhtiar Government – and finally the rise of Khomeini.
Today, we are watching this sequence play out in Egypt. First, Mubarak fell. Then came the jubilation of Tahrir Square and the hopefulness of an interim military government. And now – we are left to wonder what Act Three will bring.
Will Egypt remain a strong US ally in the region? Will it uphold the Camp David peace treaty with Israel. Will it commit to the rule of law and human rights at home?
Or will Egypt fall into the hands of the radical Muslim Brotherhood? Will it drift toward Iran and embrace the enemies of Israel?
Unfortunately, recent developments indicate that Egypt is moving in the wrong direction.
The Muslim Brotherhood is gaining additional influence and may soon gain significant legislative power.
According to a poll released on April 25 by the Pew Research Center, 78 percent of Egyptians hold a favorable view of the Muslim Brotherhood – that’s better than the youth-led “April 6 Movement” that removed Mubarak from power. In September’s planned elections, the Muslim Brotherhood plans to contest anywhere from 30 to 50 percent of parliamentary seats.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s foreign policy is shifting away from the U.S. and our allies…and toward the Islamic Republic of Iran and its terrorist proxies.
On April 18th, Iran announced the appointment of the country’s first ambassador to Egypt in over 30 years.
On April 27th, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Elaraby said he will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Indonesia on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit. The two officials will discuss the next steps for the Iranian-Egyptian relationship.
On May 3rd, Iran’s Foreign Minister announced he would send his deputy to visit Egypt in coming days.
Egyptian authorities helped negotiate the recent reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah – a major setback to Israeli-Palestinian peace.
When asked to comment on Hamas being a terrorist organization, Egypt’s Foreign Minister said, “ allow someone who is fighting for a cause to see the light of day at the end of the tunnel and to enter into peace.”
On March 28th, Hamas submitted a request to the Egyptian government to reopen its embassy in the Gaza Strip.
On April 28th, Egypt’s foreign minister announced plans to reopen the Rafah border with Gaza on a permanent basis – a potential boon to the Hamas terrorist organization.
And on April 30th, Al Hayat reported that Hamas would be relocating its offices from Damascus – sending the terrorist group’s number two man, Musa Abu Marzouk, to Egypt.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s commitment to democracy and human rights has suffered a serious setback following the recent attacks on the country’s Coptic Christian community that left scores dead and hundreds more injured.
This follows the interim government’s move to dismiss the Coptic governor of the city of Qena only days after his appointment – caving to mass demonstrations organized by the Muslim Brotherhood.
As one Coptic bishop told the AFP: “They are led by Salafis and the Muslim Brotherhood, and they are chanting: ‘We won’t leave until the Christians leave.'”
Finally, on March 28th, Dr. Maikel Nabil Sanad, a 25-year-old blogger, was arrested for “insulting the military” and “disturbing public security” after posting comments on his blog that were critical of the military’s role in the protests. This arrest clearly violated the International Covenant on International and Political Rights and the new government’s commitment to fundamental freedoms for its people. If Egyptians could freely express their views in Tahrir Square, they should have the freedom to express their views online.
Mr. President, the trajectory of Egypt’s revolution now faces two distinct scenarios: it could become a secular American ally that respects the rule of law, diversity, and peace with Israel; or it could become a Muslim Brotherhood controlled ally of Iran that embraces terrorist groups like Hamas, persecutes its religious minorities and rejects peace with Israel.
We must do everything in our power to support the secular forces in Egypt or face the prospect of a strategic setback on the scale of Iran in 1979 and potentially another war in the Middle East.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that my remarks be entered into the Record.
Watch the speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkUbjLd-0Y0
Details about the program are also highlighted on Senator Kirk’s website.
