Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has a long history of deception, promotion of Sharia law, anti-Semitism, and anti-Western values. Yet this does not seem to concern the Obama White House. Recently the Obama Administration wholeheartedly welcomed a delegation from the Muslim Brotherhood to Washington. It even suspended normal screening processes for them, including one member who, according to the Investigative Project on Terrorism, was “implicated—though not charged—in a U.S. child pornography investigation.”
In addition to turning a blind eye to suspected criminals, the Obama Administration has overlooked the Muslim Brotherhood’s policies and beliefs. The Brotherhood has explicitly stated it will not accept Israel as a state “under any circumstances.” The organization referred to Osama bin Laden with the honorary title “Sheikh” and called him a “shaheed” (martyr) after he was killed. They also have an intricate connection to the terrorist organization Hamas, which regularly attacks Israel.
U.S. relations with Egypt have soured not only due to the ascendency of the Muslim Brotherhood, but also because of the transitional government’s witch hunt against pro-democracy workers in the country, including members of U.S.-funded nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). But none of this has fazed the Obama Administration; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that America will continue to give Egypt $1.5 billion in annual aid.
According to Heritage’s James Phillips, the Obama Administration’s “see no evil” policy means that the Muslim Brotherhood “can continue to exploit anti-American sentiments whipped up by the state-controlled media with little fear of the consequences. Granting U.S. aid on an unconditional basis also signals weakness and virtually guarantees that the NGO show trials will continue.”
Past actions of the Muslim Brotherhood indicate they will continue to support terrorists and disrespect individual rights. The U.S. needs to start using its foreign aid to promote democracy and other values. This is our money, and we should be allowed to attach any strings we want. America should not give Egypt the aid until it is clear that the incoming Muslim Brotherhood-dominated Egyptian government will act responsibly, respect the terms of Egypt’s 1979 peace treaty with Israel, and respect the human rights of its own people.
If the Muslim Brotherhood chooses to act irresponsibly, then Washington should halt its foreign aid. U.S. foreign aid is not an entitlement program, and the United States should not subsidize foreign governments that adopt policies hostile to American interests.
Treston Wheat is currently a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please visit: http://www.heritage.org/about/departments/ylp.cfm
