Egypt's Morsi Reveals True Colors in Arabic

By Ryan Mauro

The “moderate” President of Egypt, the candidate of the “moderate Islamist” Muslim Brotherhood, is exposed in a new video as being not-so-moderate. The video consists of clips from two interviews he gave in 2010 where, because he was talking to an Arab audience, he was a bit more honest than he would be for a Western diplomat or interviewer.

In the video, Morsi says the Muslim world must wage a no-holds-barred war against Israel. “We should employ all forms of resistance against them” including “military resistance.” Muslims must “besiege the Zionists wherever they are.”

He endorses the Hamas terrorist group, claiming that the Palestinian Authority “was created by the Zionist and American enemies.” Yes, he does view America as an enemy and he tells Muslims to boycott its goods.

The war against Israel must continue until it is eliminated. Negotiations should end “once and for all.” No Muslim government or population should have any ties to Israel. He says, “All the talk about a two-state solution and about peace is nothing but an illusion.”

Morsi spouts vile anti-Semitism. He refers to the “Zionists” as “blood-suckers” who are “the descendants of apes and pigs.” And he isn’t just talking about Israelis. He is referring to Jews when he says they’ve been trouble “throughout history” and “they are hostile by nature.” He is arguing that Jews have always been the enemy of Islam, as they are inherently aggressive.

Of course, this isn’t how he talks to Western audiences. After all, he joined the Muslim Brotherhood when he was studying at the University of Southern California from 1978 to 1982. He’s long practiced in the art of being an Islamist in the West.

This was on display in an interview he gave to CNN in 2011, about a year after he made these comments on Arab television. Everything he said was pleasant. Luckily, Elliot Spitzer pressed him on the issue of whether the Brotherhood would honor the peace treaty with Israel.

“This is a heavy question. It’s out of faith. It’s ridiculous to ask about the future,” Morsi replied. The most he’d say is that the Brotherhood is “against Zionism,” but assured the audience that the group isn’t anti-Semitic. He characterized the group as non-violent and opposed to terrorism. And then the truth came out:

“We do not use violence against anyone. What’s going on [in] the Palestinian land is resistance.”

Morsi knows what language to use with a Western audience. He can condemn violence by re-defining what it means. Just like the Brotherhood refines terms such as “justice,” “human rights,” “peace,” “democracy” and every other key word that lessens the heart rate of Westerners.

Morsi’s power grab and Sharia-instituting constitution is forcing open the eyelids of those who chose not to see the truth. Let us recall who was duped along the way:

“I think that the Muslim Brotherhood is one faction in Egypt. They don’t have majority support in Egypt, but they are well-organized and there are strains of their ideology that are anti-U.S., there is no doubt about it.”—President Obama, February 6, 2011.

“The term ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ is an umbrella term for a variety of movements, in the case of Egypt, a very heterogeneous group, largely secular, which has eschewed violence and has described Al-Qaeda as a perversion of Islam.”— Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, February 10, 2011.

“I think the answer is yes, I think we will be satisfied [if the Muslim Brotherhood wins], if it is a free and fair election ...What we need to do is judge people and parties and movements on what they do, not what they’re called …This [Islamist parties] is something that we are used to, and should not be afraid of. We should deal with them.”— William Taylor, State Department Special Coordinator for the Office of Middle East Transitions, November 4, 2011.

“We believe, given the changing political landscape in Egypt, that it is in the interests of the United States to engage with all parties that are peaceful and committed to nonviolence, that intend to compete for the parliament and the presidency.”— Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, June 30, 2011.

“I was very apprehensive when I heard the [Egyptian] election results. But after visiting and talking with the Muslim Brotherhood, I am hopeful that …we can have a relationship with Egypt where the Muslim Brotherhood is a strong political voice.”— Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), February 21, 2012.

“We believe that it is in the interest of the United States to engage with all parties that are committed to democratic principles, especially nonviolence.”—National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor, April 4, 2012.

“We judge individuals and parties that are elected in a democratic process by their actions, not by their religious affiliations.”— White House Press Secretary Jay Carney,June 25, 2012.

“I was convinced that President Morsi is his own man, and that he is the president of all the Egyptian people, and that he is truly committed to implement democracy here in Egypt.”— Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, July 31, 2012.

If only our leaders listened to what the Muslim Brotherhood says. The West needs to stop assuming that our enemies are kidding.