"Recent reports
in the U.S. media reveal the beginning of a shift in America's stance toward
the Muslim Brotherhood, indicating that patience within the U.S. administration
is wearing thin when it comes to mismanagement of Egypt's affairs by Morsi and his party. ... Public frustration with the dim prospects of
a resolution to these problems under the Muslim Brotherhood threatens to spark a
domestic political eruption that would consequently threaten American interests
in Egypt and the entire region."
The host of Egypt's El Bernameg [The Program], Bassem Youssef: The former surgeon, whose daily satirical program is seen by more people than The Daily Show, has been the target of official ire in Egypt.
The funniest segment of a special episode of Jon Stewart's
satirical American news program The Daily
Show dealt with the case being brought against Egyptian satirist BassemYoussef. Stewart commented
that "President Morsi has become famous in the United
States," in reference to the fact that Stewart's program has such high viewership
in the U.S., where it is broadcast on 26 channels. Stewart also criticized the
Egyptian president's prosecution of Youssef's
satirical program.
The case is now taking on an added dimension. It started as
a question of limiting freedom of opinion and expression and has expanded into one
that may entail a political crisis between the Egyptian presidency and the
American administration. This is a result of comments by U.S. State Department spokesperson
Victoria Nuland and Secretary of State John Kerry
himself, about their concerns over the prosecutions and harassment that media
professionals in Egypt face - BassemYoussef in particular.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
The Egyptian presidency and ruling Freedom and Justice Party
[political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood] responded
to these statements by describing them as "blatant interference"
in Egypt's internal affairs.
But the crisis is about more than John Stewart's message to
President Morsi, his surprise at the fact that Bassem's satire is considered an insult to the president,
and Stewart's view that silencing Bassem and his
program doesn't befit the president of a country like Egypt, home to one of history's
greatest civilizations. One could go as far as to say that this is an indicator
that uncomfortable relations between Egypt and the U.S. are beginning to emerge.
Does this interference by Washington in the BassemYoussef affair mean that it
is beginning to change its stance toward President Morsi
and the Muslim Brotherhood, which it has supported since they rose to power?
Does it mean an end of months of mutual friendliness - and the U.S.
administration's worrying silence about Egyptian government policy? Are the
charges against Bassem the only thing alarming and angering
American officials? And are these statements just the beginning of changes to
come in U.S. relations with President Morsi and the
Muslim Brotherhood?
Recent reports in the U.S. media reveal the beginning of a shift
in America's stance toward the Muslim Brotherhood. They indicate that patience within
the American administration is wearing thin when it comes to mismanagement of
Egypt's affairs by Morsi and his party. This is particularly
true in the light of crises and conflicts with the nation's media, judiciary and
political opposition. Public frustration with the dim prospects of a resolution
to these problems under the Muslim Brotherhood threatens to spark a domestic political
eruption that would consequently threaten American interests in Egypt and the entire
region.
