Patrick Goodenough
CNS News
3/8/2013
…[Congressman Frank] Wolf witnessed the perception that the U.S. is backing the Muslim Brotherhood. (Secretary of State John Kerry heard the same complaints during his recent visit to Cairo, as did his predecessor before him.)
“I was told people think the United States is developing relationships with the Muslim Brotherhood because it believes the party is going to remain in power,” Wolf said. “[T]he feeling is that as long as the Brotherhood protects the United States’ interests in the region, it can act with impunity within its borders.”
Wolf met with Copts and other Christians, and heard about at atmosphere of intolerance towards Christians and women, regularly fostered in television programming.
“Churches have been desecrated, and no permits to build new churches have been granted since January 2011,” he said. January 2011 marked the start of the protests that led by Mubarak’s departure.
“By most accounts, U.S. policy has not evolved to meet the new realities in Egypt,” Wolf said. “We have embraced the Morsi government the same way we embraced the Mubarak government to the detriment of other elements of Egyptian civil society – elements with which we have a natural affinity.
“While such groups may not take the reins of leadership in the near future, they are central to the Egyptian democratic experiment, and we can bolster their standing and effectiveness if we take the long-term view.”
Noting that Egypt has received more than $60 billion in U.S. foreign assistance over three decades, Wolf called for changes in the way aid is given…
…Wolf met in Lebanon with Christian and Muslim refugees from Syria, including a Christian couple who told him that only 400 Christians remain in Damascus, most too old to flee.
“They described some in the Free Syrian Army as terrorists, including foreign fighters from countries like Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen and Egypt,” he said.
“Bashar al-Assad is a brutal dictator and war criminal,” Wolf said, but added that “the West must be clear-eyed about who the rebels are, and what they will do if they seize power.”…
Read the complete article at CNSNews.com
Related: Report: Americans Training Syrian Anti-Government Rebels
Also, Obama Policies Responsible For Imminent “slaughter” In Middle East
Update: Afghan leader alleges US, Taliban are colluding
Update 2: Christians protest in Pakistan against Muslim violence
There were dozens of Christian houses torched over the weekend in Lahore after an apparent false charge of blasphemy was leveled against a Christian.
Police say they have 150 in custody who will be charged with terrorism. But the protest by hundreds of Christians was also against the inability – and reluctance – of Pakistani authorities to prosecute crimes against Christians…
