Albert Kienle's Blog
The Consequences of Egypt's Demise
Date: February 09, 2011 | Author: Albert Kienle
Crisis, chaos, unrest, are but a few words describing the recent events in Egypt, the Land of the Pharaohs. We have all listened to the various reports, watched the scenes within Liberation Square and elsewhere, and wonder what the near future might hold for Egypt, its citizens, and the world ....
I strongly support the right of the Egyptian people to have free elections and free markets and true opportunity in the 21st century. I want the Church to be free to share the gospel with others without government oppression and without violent attacks by radical Muslims.
For all of Mubarak's sins, he is not a Radical. He doesn't want to launch a jihad against the U.S., Israel or the West. He has maintained the peace treaty with Israel. He has worked to counter the Hamas movement in Gaza. He is strongly opposed to the Iranian nuclear weapons program and has worked closely with the West to counter it.
The genuine and positive pro-freedom movement is being steadily coopted by violent and extremist forces.
There is a growing risk that the overthrow of the Mubarak regime could lead either to an authoritarian military regime, or a radical Islamist regime. The people of Egypt would be further oppressed. Israel and the West would be endangered. In 1979 then-US President Jimmy Carter precipitously helped to rid the Shah of Iran. The Shah had his many flaws but Carter's actions helped trigger the Islamic Revolution and led to the rise of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the loss of an ally, and the rise of a terror-exporting country that has gained in lethality ever since. We dare not make the same mistakes with Egypt....
There is no organized moderate group in Egypt. Even the most important past such organization, the Kifaya movement, has been taken over by the Muslim Brotherhood. Since 2007 its leader has been Abdel Wahhab al-Messiri, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood and a virulent anti-Semite.
If Mubarak left today it would be the worst possible outcome. Under Egypt's Constitution, there would be a rush to elections. The radical Islamic forces are the best organized opposition in Egypt and they want elections as quickly as possible -- because they are best positioned to grab power. Keep in mind that elections for the sake of elections is not in the interest of peace in the area, in Egypt, or in the region. Egypt needs time to build a system of democratic institutions based on the rule of law. Laws that codify a secular law not an Islamic one. Keeping Mubarak in power will increase the chances of succeeding in accomplishing this important objective.
Needless to say there are many forces at work in Egypt. Who are the front-runners?
The Muslim Brotherhood is the father of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The Muslim Brotherhood's stated mission is as follows: "Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Qur'an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope."
A group of US national security experts states: "The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in 1928. Its express purpose was two-fold: (1) to implement shariah worldwide, and (2) to re-establish the global Islamic State (caliphate). Therefore, al Qaeda and the MB have the same objectives. They differ only in the timing and tactics involved in realizing them." Former Brotherhood Supreme Guide Muhammad Akef declared in 2004 his "complete faith that Islam will invade Europe and America,"
The Jerusalem Post reports a leader of the Egyptian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as calling on Egyptians to prepare for war with Israel. He also called for the closing of the Suez Canal which would have a serious economic impact on the West.
Until recently, few Westerners knew the name Mohamed ElBaradei. Now, this calm, genteel-sounding, Nobel laureate has suddenly emerged as the face of the protest movement in Egypt. But is he a force for genuine, positive change? This self-appointed leader of the opposition in Egypt is the former United Nations nuclear inspector who knowingly or unknowingly helped the Iranian nuclear program to proceed. He has also openly sought the support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
He denies that the Muslim Brotherhood is an extremist radical group intent on building an Islamic state. In an interview picked up by Politics Daily, ElBaradei "said the Muslim Brotherhood, which had the largest organized opposition to the government, did not pose the threat of turning Egypt into another Iran. 'This is totally bogus,' ElBaradei said. 'They are no way extremists. They are no way using violence. They are not a majority of the Egyptian people. They will not be more than maybe 20 percent of the Egyptian people. You have to include them like, you know, new evangelicals, you know, groups in the U.S., like the orthodox Jews in Jerusalem.'"
He has also said he would recognize Hamas and lift all sanctions against them. At best, his words and actions are worrisome.
Israel's Prime Minister voiced concern about the growing turmoil in Egypt and the possibility that radical Islamic forces will come to power. Israel has a lot at stake in the outcome of this upheaval. For one its quiet border with Egypt may become another security problem.
Mubarak's departure now will create a political vacuum that will be filled by enemies of Israel and the West. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't!
A few closing observations:
Should Egypt collapse and fall to the radicals, and should such a revolution spread throughout that region, I see Israel becoming more and more isolated, surrounded by her enemies. Will the West and other friendly nations stand by her or at a distance? The signs do point to prophetic fulfillments and the Return of Jesus Christ.
I know that ultimately the Lord is in charge, and this -- and nothing else -- is what should give us all hope. As the Hebrew Prophet Daniel once said while living under a brutal Middle Eastern dictator: "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding." (Daniel 2:20-21)
Throughout its long ancient, biblical and modern history Egypt has often played a significant role in the purposes of God.
Isaiah chapter 19, describes a very difficult, violent and economically disastrous future for Egypt in the last days, and even worse leadership than it has had in the past. But there is also hope in Egypt's future. The God of the Bible loves the people of Egypt. He is desirous to get their attention and draw them into a personal relationship with Him through faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Hebrew Prophet Isaiah speaks of this divine love for Egypt:
In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance." (Isa. 19:23-25)
Source: Joel C. Rosenberg, a prophetic author and teacher.
