Egypt from a Constitutionalist's Point of View

"My ardent desire is, and my aim has been ... to comply strictly with all our engagements foreign and domestic; but to keep the United States free from political connections with every other Country. To see that they may be independent of all, and under the influence of none. In a word, I want an American character, that the powers of Europe may be convinced we act for ourselves and not for others; this, in my judgment, is the only way to be respected abroad and happy at home." --George Washington, letter to Patrick Henry, 1775

By Douglas V. Gibbs

As I have written about the turmoil in Egypt, I have been very specific in explaining that, though I am not sure that Islamism is necessarily behind the genesis of the unrest in Egypt, Islam is an opportunistic ideology, and will take advantage of what is going on. Islam thrives in chaos, and grows during times of strife.

Obama has been wrong to throw his support behind the rebels. He was wrong in demanding that Mubarak step down. And he was wrong in characterizing what is going on as simply being the rise of democracy in Egypt.

This is not to say that we should storm Egypt with military force, or do whatever we can to force the people of Egypt to accept Mubarak, and keep him in power. The President of the United States should offer verbal support for the current "legal" government in Egypt, and issue a warning that American response will accompany any moves against American interests. But that should be the length of it.

The Founding Fathers believed in not becoming entangled in foreign affairs that did not directly affect the United States. We became entangled in World War II because we were attacked at Pearl Harbor, and we invaded Iraq because we were invaded on 9/11 - and intelligence, faulty or not, gave us reason to believe there was a connection between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. Egypt is a fascinating case, however.

Radical Islam is poised to spread throughout the Muslim states of the Middle East and North Africa. It is no coincidence that the nations experiencing strife are the "secular" nations in the Muslim World.

One must remember that Iran experienced two revolutions. After the Shah fled Iran, the first change of power was not one that turned Iran into an Islamic Republic. That revolution came later. The same will happen in Egypt. On the surface it will look like a simple change, and a hope for a more "democratic" future. But in the end, within five years (maybe much sooner), Egypt will fall and an Islamic Republic will rise from the ashes.

Until we are directly threatened (and we will be, I think), however, we must remain neutral.

God help the Egyptian people. I pray for them. The Muslim Brotherhood's influence, however, is stronger than is being portrayed.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary