Yes, He Is Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi

A radical Islamist and recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world

It is all over for Liberty in Egypt. Done. There may be a constitution and there may be an election but there will not be freedom in Egypt; there will be Shariah law. It took less than a month. Let’s lay down the timeline of events in Egypt.

January 25, 2011 —The beginning: On a national holiday to commemorate the police forces, Egyptians take to the streets in large numbers, calling it a “day of rage”.

January 26: Obama’s Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, tells reporters that the Egyptian government should “demonstrate its responsiveness to the people of Egypt” by recognizing their “universal rights.”

January 27: Protests continue across several cities. Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the “UN nuclear watchdog for the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) turned democracy advocate, arrives in Egypt to join the protests. ElBaradei says he is ready to “lead the transition” in Egypt if asked.

January 28: Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry Messenger services are disrupted.  According to the AP, an elite special counterterrorism force has been deployed at strategic points around Cairo in the hours before the planned protests. Egypt’s interior ministry warns of “decisive measures.”

January 29: In a speech delivered shortly after midnight, Mubarak announces that he has sacked the cabinet, but he himself refuses to step down. Egyptian soldiers secure Cairo’s famed antiquities museum, protecting thousands of priceless artifacts, including the gold mask of King Tutankhamun, from looters.

Thousands of anti-government protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square stand their ground, despite troops firing into the air in a bid to disperse them.

Mubarak appoints a vice-president for the first time during his three decades in power. The man now second-in-command is Omar Suleiman, the country’s former spy chief, who has been working closely with Mubarak during most of his reign.

January 30: Thousands of protesters remain in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. ElBaradei addresses the cheering protesters, saying “What we started can never be pushed back”. 

By now, the Obama Administration, including the President, have been all over the map in public. I am very skeptical of what they might be doing in secret.

I write my first post on this uprising, Egypt, Iran and The Haj. For five days, virtually all TV and written coverage has been with the “freedom fighters” and for the overthrow of the Egyptian government. Then there will be democracy in Egypt, they declared. It was actually tough writing my post. No one is for freedom more than me. But everything I have learned, in the 32 years since the Carter Administration’s complicit covert support of the dark forces in Iran, compelled me to be very skeptical about this spontaneous uprising by “students.” So, I wrote”

“Egypt is a human powder keg and the fuse may already be lit.

“ Who can know if President Obama’s hard position towards Mubarak is the right path. In the first place, how can we know if the American “back channel” message towards Mubarak is really all that hard? Perhaps what we hear from the President is for consumption by the left here or Governments elsewhere.

“Let’s be clear, we have been here before. In 1979, we faced an Ayatollah led Muslim extremist uprising in Iran There was a hated, American backed strongman (the Shah) in Tehran. There was a failed President Carter in Washington. 32 years ago, Carter took a hard line: he knocked out the props; the Shah fell. In Iran, we have the —about to be nuclear— dictatorship of the Ayatollahs. Who can calculate the price the World and especially America has paid for Carter’s failure? The human misery and death suffered by the Iranian people is staggering.

“Could our current failed President be making the same mistake? Could a dictatorship of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt be as serious? No question, worse! The inevitable lost energy resources will bring the World to her knees. The hate and rage of the Arab Muslim world is about to explode. Who will come to Israel’s aid? Perhaps, not even the Obama-led American government. Israel can, and I would argue, will take out Cairo, Tehran, Beirut, and any other Arab Capital they find necessary —nuclear if necessary.

“Where will it stop? What’ll the Muslim populations in Europe do? What will Obama’s teleprompters do?”

Please read the rest.

January 31: Amidst growing calls for his resignation and pressure from Obama, Mubarak refuses to step down Protesters continue to defy the military-imposed curfew. About 250,000 people gather in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Internet access across Egypt is still shoddy according to most reports.

Egypt’s new vice-president promises dialogue with opposition parties in order to push through constitutional reforms.

Former President, Israel hater and Hamas lover, Jimmy Carter calls the unrest in Egypt an “earth-shaking event”, and says he guesses Hosni Mubarak “will have to leave.”

Israel urges the world to tone down Mubarak criticism amid Egypt unrest to preserve stability in the region.

February 1: Hosni Mubarak announces in a televised address that he will not run for re-election but refuses to leave from office —the apparent central demand of the protesters.

I posted Taking Mubarak To Task noting Egypt is not ranked among the worst 20 human rights abusers, I wrote:

“Of course, the human conditions are terrible in Egypt. We are not for that. But is this devil we know, who kept a peace with Israel for more than 30 years, worse than the devil, we don’t know? American Secular Fundamentalist group, Code Pink is lending their support to overthrow the human rights abuser, Mubarak. (Keep in mind, this outfit sees G. W. Bush as similar to Mubarak but thinks Cuba is paradise.)

“We will have the Muslim Brotherhood if the demonstrators (with help from the Obama regime?) topple Mubarak. Who or what is the Muslim Brotherhood? They are the fountainhead of Hamas and the Sunni terrorist organizations (al–Qaida). America’s principal Muslim organizations (CAIR) all are committed to the Muslim Brotherhood.

“Here is their creed:

‘Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. Qur’an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.’”

Moreover I could not find a Samuel Adams or Patrick Henry in this uprising.

February 2: More demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak’s regime. The army is still deployed with tanks throughout different positions in and around Tahrir Square.

Google improves its “speak2tweet” technology for the people in Egypt.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Boston entrepreneur Hadid Habbab has called for volunteers to help find his missing friend, Google executive Wael Ghonim, who went missing during the protests of the past week.

I missed the Google and Wael Ghonim facts. Had I seen them, I would not have known their profound significance —but, that later.

I posted Once Again, Mr. President, a video of new Congressman Allen West concisely laying out lesson #1 on Islam in under 2 minutes. Of course, the President knows the lesson; he just doesn’t care. But you care; please view it now.

I also posted Egypt From The Inside; I wrote:

“We get news of the Egyptian crisis from CNN, AP, Fox or some other news gatherer. We get analysis from an array of fools or, on occasion, from wise men such as John Bolton. President Obama has rarely seemed so clueless. What follows is this rare and opportunity, “The Story From the Inside.”  Clarice Feldman is a regular contributor at The American Thinker. Through a colleague, she brings an incredible story from an Egyptian student, Sam Tadros. Sam writes:

‘One week ago, Egypt was a stable authoritarian regime, prospects of change were minimal and every expert in Washington would have betted on the endurance of its regime. Today, Egypt is in a state of chaos. The regime, even after using its mightiest sword is not able to control the country and the streets of Egypt are in a state of utter lawlessness. As the world stands in awe, confusion, and worry at the unfolding events, perhaps it is important to write the evolving story that is happening in Egypt before any reflections can be made on them.’”

Even now —no, not even now but, rather, more importantly now, we need to soak in Sam’s testimony. Read it all here.  

February 3: Gunfire aimed at demonstrators in Tahrir Square, leave at least five people dead and several more wounded, according to reports from Cairo. Mubarak still in town.

February 4: Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, seems like the largest crowd of anti-government protesters, perhaps hundreds of thousands, gather in Cairo’s Tahrir Square for what they have termed the “Day of Departure.” Mubarak is still in town.

February 5: Thousands remain inside Tahrir Square. Reuters quotes Egyptian state TV as saying “terrorists” have targeted an Israel-Egypt gas pipeline in northern Sinai.

February 6:  Banks officially re-open for 3.5 hours, and traffic police are back on the streets in Cairo, in attempts to get the capital to start returning to normal. Protests continue in Tahrir Square; there are reports of gunshots fired by the army into the air near the cordon set up inside the barricades, near the Egyptian museum.

Reports say Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, spoke with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq (on February 5), emphasizing the need to ensure the legitimate aspirations of the Egyptian people are met and stressing that incidents of harassment and detention of activists and journalists must stop.

While there were a number of cases of detention of journalists, the overwhelming issue for journalists was abuse and attacks from demonstrators —as we now know.

I posted Understanding Egypt: What do the Saudis, Syrians and Others Think?

We naturally see events in Egypt in the light of the American or Israeli national interest. Let’s set aside the Turks and the Persians. How does Egypt affect the Arab World? Egypt alone is one third of the Arab population. The turmoil in Egypt is terrifying to the Arab governments. Once again my friend, Amil Imani, has the background and knowledge to sort it out. In his piece Friday in The American Thinker, Islam On A Collision Course, Amil provides some clarity and understanding.

February 7: Thousands camp out in Tahrir Square, refusing to leave. While banks have reopened, schools and the stock exchange remain closed.

Egypt’s government approve a 15 per cent raise in salaries and pensions in a bid to win over the people.

Wael Ghonim, a Google executive and political activist arrested by state authorities, is released; some see him as a potential figurehead for the pro-democracy camp. Along with much of this post, I gathered this after the fact. Stay with me on this guy for a few more days, I’ll explain below.

February 8: Protesters continue to gather at Tahrir Square, which now resembles a tented camp. Protesters in the capital also gather to protest outside parliament.

The city sees possibly the biggest crowd of demonstrators, including Egyptians who have returned from abroad and other newcomers mobilized by the release of Google’s activist Wael Ghonim.

I post Darkness and Light —Shariah and Liberty. This post is not so much about the current events in Egypt as it is about getting the American mind around a mindset completely foreign to any of our thinking or experience. Here is part of what I wrote:

“Islam has not been hijacked by extremists. Informed by Judeo-Christian teaching and experience, we can only conclude, Islam is extreme. You and I (and Kristol and Lowery) must understand that wherever Islam prevails, Shariah is the Law.

“The present government of Egypt claims to be secular and not Shariah. But understand this, more than 80% of Egyptian women have been mutilated sexually (cliterectomy) in compliance with Shariah Law. Most of those women (and girls) live in slavery. Free elections will not change that. A current poll reveals 84% of Egyptians believe an apostate (leaving Islam for another belief) must be punished by death —again, Shariah Law. Keep in mind about 10% of Egyptians are Coptic Christians.

“What about Muslims in the United States? With few exceptions, wherever Muslim Mosques exist here, Shariah informs their home life. Women and girls are beaten. Of course non-Muslim women (and occasionally, men) are beaten here, but that is not mandated by Religion or law. Of course our legal code does not include Shariah, but regularly now, Shariah is offered as a partial defense in criminal cases.”

This post contains persuasive evidence supporting the above statements and much more. I hope you go there and read or re-read it all.

February 9: Protests continue with seemingly broadening support. Ahmed Aboul Ghiet, Egypt’s foreign minister, tells al-Arabiya network on Wednesday that the Egyptian army could step in to “protect the country from an attempt by some adventurers to take power”.

Aboul Ghiet tells PBS that he is “infuriated” by the US’s initial response to the unrest in the country, and that he finds the Obama administration’s advice on political transition “not at all” helpful.”

February 10: Protesters in Tahrir Square react with fury when Mubarak says he’s remaining in power until September. Protesters wave their shoes in the air, and demand the army join them in revolt.

February 11:  After tens of thousands people take to the streets across Egypt in angry protests, Hosni Mubarak Resigns and hands over power to the army. The announcement is made by Omar Suleiman, the vice-president. Celebrations begin in Cairo’s streets. 

February 12: People celebrate in Tahrir Square until early morning. Pro-democracy protesters start to clean the square. The country’s new military rulers promise to hand power to an elected, civilian government and pledged that Egypt will remain committed to all international treaties, clearly meaning its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.

Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi makes (with a forked tongue) a moderate statement about the celebrants in Egypt winning their freedom.

I posted, Democracy In Egypt? Here’s what I said:

What I Heard In Fridays News

Mubarak resigned and left. People in the Cairo streets are rejoicing. They have been pronounced free by reporters. “There will be free and fair elections.” “The Egyptian people will determine their own destiny.” “Egypt will have Democracy!” After all, “every person longs to be free.”

Really?

What I Know

Mubarak apparently left office. People in the Cairo streets are rejoicing.

The rest is hogwash. Egyptians are no more free today than they were Thursday. Will there be elections? Likely. Will the elections be free? Possibly. Will they be fair? Someone (Obama or the UN) could dispatch Jimmy Carter to observe and declare them fair.

Will Egypt have Democracy? We live in a world where most tyrannies are called democracy. Even the Soviets and Saddam had elections. The Iranians have elections. There are elections in Pakistan. Democracy has not, does not and cannot produce Liberty.

The American forefathers got it right, Liberty is an endowment from our Creator; the Judeo-Christian God. It is a gift given to every single human being. Leviticus 25:10 says: “. . . proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants thereof.” Jesus is the only Light of the world.” In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells us:

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Christians believe Jesus gave every single person the gift of Liberty at the cross. Liberty in us, through Jesus, is the light of the world. Tyrant and dictators, like Castro, restrict and smother that light. Even in America, the shining city on a hill, busy (liberal) beavers work to trim the “wick” of your lamp through regulation.

Islam rejects, despises, disdains, scorns and refutes Liberty. Islam, through Shariah, smothers the light until the Muslim world lives in darkness. Egypt is an Islamic country. 10% of Egyptians are Coptic Christians. They don’t count. 84% of Egyptians say they want Shariah law. Only 6% of Egyptian Muslims want a secular government.

Figure it out yourself. This is a sad day. Egypt is headed for darkness. They may be celebrating freedom in today’s light but the sad choking hopeless darkness of Shariah is coming for Egyptians; both Christians and Muslims. Could the American government have guided a different outcome? We’ll never know. They didn’t even try.

February 17: Banned Qaradawi returns to lead Friday prayers in Egypt. The hope of western dreamers has evaporated in a week. The “democratic revolution” is over.

February 18, 2011: An estimated crowd of more than a million heard Qaradawi at Tihrir Square. I do not have the text yet,  MEMRI is still translating it. The only source I found trustworthy is called, Pipeline News. Here’s what they got from MEMRI:

“Al-Qaradawi asked the Egyptian army to open wide the Rafah crossing and to pray for the re-conquest of Jerusalem by the Muslims, so that he and the Muslims could pray in security at Al-Aqsa Mosque. This part of his sermon was cheered and applauded by the crowd….”

Google man, Wael Ghonim, was there to address the throng but he was turned away by al-Qaradawi’s men —so much for Democracy and free speech. But, how is a Google man involved? He is the individual who organized the “spontaneous” uprising. Yes, I said organized. It was planned and organized. By January 25, a date Ghonim chose, he had 400,000 followers on Facebook.

Word is that Ghonim is a secret member of the Muslim Brotherhood. I can’t confirm it and doubt it. If he is MB, wouldn’t he have been part of the al-Qaradawi operation? We’ll learn much more about this in the coming days. Watch for more on how Google itself was involved. If it goes beyond Ghonim, does it go to the White House? How much of this does Israel know?