Clinton Hopeful That Egypt’s Islamists Will Represent Christians

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday that America’s relationship with Egypt will largely depend on how the new Egyptian government respects the rights of Coptic Christians, women and other minorities. Mrs. Clinton’s statement indicated that the Obama administration had not entirely decided what its future with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood would be.

“We are going to judge by actions, not words, and the actions are really just at the very beginning stages,” Mrs. Clinton said.

Clinton praised Morsi for saying he would be “the president of all Egyptians,” and also emphasized his pledge to include Christians and women in top leadership positions. “We are prepared to work with the leaders that the Egyptian people choose,” Mrs. Clinton said.

But many analysts do not share the optimism Mrs. Clinton voiced about Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. When Morsi was campaigning for the presidency, he delivered a fiery speech that may be a more accurate reflection of what the future will be like for Egypt’s minorities. “Jihad is our path,” Morsi said, adding that “death for the sake of Allah is our most lofty aspiration, the sharia is our constitution.” Morsi also said, “The Koran is our constitution. Regardless the actual text [of the constitution], it will reflect sharia.” He also promised to limit the rights of women and reverse Egypt’s previously friendly stance toward the U.S. and Israel.

To understand the sobering implications of Egypt’s new direction, read “Egypt and Libya to Join Iran’s Terror Network.