Muslim group a concern in Egypt

Recently we have seen massive protests in the streets of Egypt as well as other Mideast countries. All people have been given a free will by God, and everyone's inalienable right is to be free. No one desires to be repressed by a dictator, nor do they deserve to be. Our forefathers fought so that we in America could be free; Egypt's citizens deserve no less. The only concern with this situation is who would fill the void of leadership if Mubarak leaves.

We are hoping they will have a democratic government so the people will be free. However the Muslim Brotherhood is trying to get a position in any future government, which is not good. The Obama administration appears to be open to allowing the Muslim Brotherhood to play a key role in a reformed Egyptian government if it renounces violence and supports democracy.

Anyone who believes the Muslim Brotherhood will renounce violence is very naive. Osama bin Laden was a graduate of the Brotherhood; so was the mastermind of 9/11, Sheik Khalid Mohammed.

It opposes the Egyptian-Israeli agreement of 1979, without which Israel would be in great danger as it was in the first few years of its existence. The Brotherhood is the godfather organization for jihad in the Middle East; its Palestinian branch, Hamas, is a terrorist organization whose charter calls for the annihilation of Israel.

If the Muslim Brotherhood gains control in Egypt, it will not only be destructive to Egypt, but also to Israel, and will put the whole region at risk. A takeover in the Mideast by the radical Islamic Jihad could have potential catastrophic implications for the future of America, too.

Marilyn Laub

Elmhurst