The American Make-Over of Mohammed Morsi

The makeover of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has begun. Some in the media are "debunking” the frightening "myths” about the Muslim Brotherhood, and others argue that he’s a potential ally. The Obama administration continues to infer that critics of the Brotherhood are simply alarmed by the word "Muslim” in the group’s name.

"We judge individuals and parties that are elected in a democratic process by their actions, not by their religious affiliations,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney when asked about the Muslim Brotherhood.

This is very similar language to that of William Taylor, the State Department’s Special Coordinator for the Office of Middle East Transitions. He oversees the spending of American taxpayer money in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. He said, "What we need to do is judge people and parties and movements on what they do, not what they’re called.”

National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor defended meetings between U.S. and Brotherhood officials with, "We believe that it is in the interest of the United States to engage with all parties that are committed to democratic principles, especially nonviolence.” Most famously, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper portrayed the Brotherhood in a positive light to Congress, embarrassingly stating that it is a "secular” group. He continues to tout the Brotherhood as a "moderate Islamist” group that can counter Al-Qaeda.

The Taliban and Hamas were joyful over Morsi’s victory in Egypt’s presidential election. They would laugh at suggestions that Morsi could be a U.S. ally. His first order of business with the U.S. is demanding the release of the "Blind Sheikh,” Omar Abdel-Rahman, who is in prison for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and other terrorist plots. Of all of the things he could discuss with the U.S., his first priority is the release of a convicted terrorist. (...)