Egypt and Islamists

Submitted by dhimmi no more (United States), Jan 22, 2011 at 07:52

Thank you Dr. Pipes for a very interesting analysis. I'm not sure that I can agree with your idea of "the push for democratization" is one of the answers.

Democracy pre-supposes secularism (al-3ulmaniyya) which is a dirty word in the Arab world now. However, unless we have secularism we will never have a democracy. It just would not exist and case in point is Egypt where even most moderate Muslims would not want to have a fully secular state. And notice that if secularism is adopted then the Coptic problem will just vanish and poor Egyptians would have more access to education and jobs and health care. It is very alarming to hear from many Copts that if South Sudan can be a new country then why not a Coptic state?

The way I see it in the case of Egypt: It is either Egypt adopts real secularism which I do not see it happening or Islamists would come to power and in the mean time old Christian communities will just vanish as half measures do not work any longer

So what would be the way out here? The only way out as was pointed out by Nasser some 55 years ago that islamists and political islam must be defeated at any cost.

As for islamism as the enemy: It is just amazing how much most Egyptians are in real denial about islamism and the evils of radical Islam and case in point was the reaction to the bombing of the Coptic church in Alexandria and in the editorials and comments made about such tragic incident no Muslim Egyptian (with very few exceptions the likes of Adel Imam) was blaming the teachings of islam and the blame for such tragic incident was attributed to al-sahayinna (the Zionists)!

I do believe what Egypt needs is a new generation of the likes of Sheikh Tahtawi and Abdo and women the likes of Huda Sha3rawi that can work within the system and change it from within

Am I optimistic? Not even close

As for Pakistan; It is our real enemy

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