Egypt’s military said to be subsidizing Muslim Brotherhood’s party

Special to WorldTribune.com

A woman walks under an electoral banner for the Al-Nour (Egypt's largest Salafi political party) in Cairo on Nov. 27. /Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

WASHINGTON — Egypt’s new military regime is said to have been
financing the Islamic opposition.

A former U.S. diplomat has asserted that Egypt’s military was financing
the Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamic opposition allies in an effort to
maintain quiet in the country. Former U.S. ambassador to Morocco, Marc
Ginsberg, said the military’s Supreme Council of Armed Forces was secretly
funding security and logistics support for the Brotherhood and the
Salafists.

“The assistance takes the form of ‘walk-around’ money, clothing and food giveaways secretly funneled to the coffers of the Brotherhood’s front party,” Ginsberg said in an analysis titled “Unholy Alliance: Egypt’s Military and the Muslim Brotherhood.”

The Brotherhood, through its Freedom and Justice Party, has claimed winning nearly 40 percent of the parliamentary vote. The Salafist parties, inspired by Al Qaida, have won another 25 percent in an election contested by secular parties.

“The SCAF is betting that its considerable support for Islamists will translate into long-term loyalty among Egypt’s post-revolutionary conscripts as an insurance policy against potential efforts to interfere with the military’s jealously-guarded prerogatives,” the analysis said.

Ginsberg, whose assertion echoed that of Egypt’s secular opposition,
said the military assistance helped the Islamists buy votes. He cited
military financing for such Salafist parties as Al Nour, Al Asalah, Al
Fadilah and Al Islah.

“The military leadership has not only channeled financial support to the
Islamists,” the analysis said. “It has also secretly collaborated with
Salafists who have attacked Copts throughout Egypt in a show of support for
more punitive discriminatory acts against Egypt’s Coptic minority to curry
further favor with Salafists.”

The military has denied helping the Islamist parties but acknowledged
that they would dominate parliament. On Dec. 7, SCAF warned that parliament,
regardless of its composition, would not be allowed to revise vital Egyptian
interests, including the constitution.

“Do you think that the Egyptians elected someone to threaten his
interest and economy and security and relations with international
community?” SCAF member Gen. Mukhtar Mulla asked during a briefing for
Western journalists. “Of course not. In such unstable conditions, the
parliament is not representing all the Egyptians.”

Ginsberg, who quoted a “reliable European military intelligence source,”
said the military support of the Brotherhood and Salafists began in April. He said the military regime established bank accounts to finance hundreds of Islamist groups throughout Egypt.

“The military is determined to prevent secularists from gaining a
parliamentary majority which would likely impair its insatiable appetite for
controlling Egypt’s national budget and its own extensive business
operations,” the analysis said. “It is determined to prevent a civilian
government from interfering with its cherished prerogatives.”

Military support to the Islamists is said to have reached several
million dollars. Ginsberg said Saudi Arabia also pumped money to candidates.

The United States has praised Egypt for holding parliamentary elections.
At least one district in Cairo has been ordered to return to the polls amid
allegations of fraud.


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