Let's Be Clear

Tariq Ramadan is being allowed to enter the US after years of denial. He is the most influential and visible European member of the Muslim Brotherhood. And let's be clear - he is one of the bad guys.

This is typical of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is eager to use the freedoms that would never exist under the caliphate is so desires to create, in order to promote its totalitarian vision. It demands the right to be heard while being unequivocal in its unwillingness to view as equal anyone who does not embrace its view radical Islamism. While it is willing to use the democratic process to achieve its goals, often putting it at odds with militantly violent groups such as al Qaeda, in the end the Brotherhood and Osama bin Laden share an identical vision of what the world should look like under Allah's rule.

Whereas Al Queda is like the movie studio, providing infrastructure, ideology, and money for terrorism (Hamas, Hizbollah, etc being competing studios), the Muslim Brotherhood is like the theater chains, exhibitioners of radical political ideology the world over. They create a framework and space and opportunity for Islamic radicalism to grow and get their message out. Every step of the way, a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood tries to deflect attention away from fighting radicals and instead whispers into our ears things we ought to be doing differently. The most visible group in the US is CAIR - the Counsel of American-Islamic Relations - who the minute a new terrorist attack occurs is the first people on TV warning against racial profiling or US overreaction. You might think a self-reflective Islamic organization would ask themselves why so many young Muslim men and woman are attracted to Islamic Radicalism...or why Muslim grievances lead to murderous rage followed by celebration in communities in Palestine, Pakistan? You might think an Islamic organization interested in being peaceful, democratic, and at ease with the rest of the world would be at the forefront of fighting radicalism. You might think they would condemn terrorism and turn in radical members of their own organization. Or call murder and assassinations what they are - as opposed to "acts of justice." You might think they'd stop funding Hamas and stop blaming the West for acts of aggression against the West by Islamic Radicals.

But, they don't. Because that's what friends would do and enemies would not. Does the Obama administration understand this? I hope so. And I hope this is a godfather like tactic to bring our enemies closer. But I do wonder...