It puzzles me to see some of our politicians still flirting with the Muslim Brotherhood, their urgent impulse being to forget and forgive, turn a new leaf, and let bygones be bygones for the entire spectrum of political Islam. So much is being said about “national reconciliation” that the Salafis are now puffing their chests and getting ready to pounce on power once more — perhaps even grab a couple of portfolios in Hazem Al-Beblawi's government. The flirtation is such that it tempted Mohamed Al-Beltagui, in yet another bout of bloody-mindedness, to offer “clemency” to the “coupists”, and even early elections, if Mohamed Morsi is reinstalled into office. The “coupists” Al-Beltagui is referring too are none other than the great army of Egypt, which stood by the millions who demanded Morsi's ouster on 30 June. And the generous offer of “clemency” comes from the very man who admitted that terrorist actions in Sinai could end if the Muslim Brotherhood wishes them to. People who want to reason with the Muslim Brotherhood are not just wasting their time, and ours. They are showing disregard for the will of the Egyptian people who have no desire to be ruled by a terrorist outfit. The numbers in our streets of those who cannot stand the Muslim Brotherhood were not just staggering. They were unprecedented in history. The numbers were perplexing to Westerners, and threw the Americans for a loop. Now the Obama administration is in a quandary, facing the prospect of another scandal over its transactions with the Muslim Brotherhood. So many people have died for this revolution. Men and women, young and old, have given their lives, and for what? For the Islamists and their jihadist friends to steal it — with US blessings, yet again? The politicians, the elite, the revolutionaries and all youth alliances must quit currying favour with the Islamists, or worrying about their hurt feelings. We must never forget that the Salafis took no part whatsoever in the 25 January Revolution. And in the 30 June Revolution, they sided with the Muslim Brotherhood. To this moment, the Salafis talk to our top politicians by day, and take part in the Muslim Brotherhood sit-in by night. Let's worry less about reconciliation and more about the rule of law. We need to have laws that apply to all and are enforced at all times. We need to bring criminals to account for the terrible crimes they have committed against the nation, the police and the army. We need to bring terrorists to trial for what they did in Sinai. We need to catch those who killed young people in cold blood, and those who threw innocent young men from rooftops. We need to put on trial, on charges of treason, all those who communicated with foreign powers, and with the Zionist enemy, to harm this country and oppress its people. Before this is done, the very idea of reconciliation is meaningless. There must be accountability for all, and reconciliation only with the misguided innocent. Yes, there are misguided innocents who have believed the lies that they were told, and eventually these need to be brought back into the national fold. But the ones who have led them astray cannot be part of this reconciliation, for their crimes do not call for forgiveness, but for retribution. The US will tell you otherwise — don't even listen. Governments who have the support of the people cannot be defeated; only the ones that oppress their people are in jeopardy. The Egyptian people are here to stay, and their word is law. The Egyptians fought off the Mongols, the Crusaders and the Zionists, and will keep fighting off oppressors, indefinitely.
