Don't listen to ISIS, just listen to Sisi

I wrote about President al-Sisi of Egypt just a few days ago and now, with immaculate timing, he has re-appeared in the headlines.  So, before we allow a wave of ferocious anti-Muslim feeling to engulf us after the massacre in Paris, please pay some attention to this very brave and intelligent man.  I urge you to do so because I have a nasty feeling he may not live too long!

According to Michele Antaki at The American Thinker, President al-Sisi cut short a trip to Kuwait to hurry back to Egypt in order to attend the Christmas mass on January 7th at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo.  The Copts work to a Julian calender and hence their Christmas is later.  His unexpected arrival caused a sensation because he was the first modern ruler of Egypt to attend a mass:

With his recent statement in favor of a renewed vision of Islam, made on 1 January 2015 before an important Al-Azhar gathering of Islamic clerics and ulema and in the presence of the Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments), Sisi has taken the lead on one of the most divisive and sensitive issues facing the world today.

In direct opposition to the radicalism now terrorizing nations across the globe, Sisi told the assembled congregation: “Egypt has brought humanism and civilization to the world for millennia and we are all here today to confirm that we are capable of doing so again... Allah willing, we shall build our nation together, accommodate each other, make room for each other, and we shall like each other...love each other...in earnest, so that people may see….” He asserted that Egyptians were one people and had to think of themselves not as Christians or Muslims, but “as Egyptians, just Egyptians.”

I don't know to what extent his words are appreciated across the Muslim world, only time will tell.  However, there can be no doubting his intelligence and his bravery.  If the Americans can find the few brain cells left lying around in the State Department they should use them to devise ways of supporting this extraordinary man.

Comments

[Whitewall]

I admire al-Sisi for his courage and honesty and his recognizing how long over due his message is. I just hope the ghost of Anwar Sadat will protect him. The western PC police may just have heart failure over this and the useless State Department may have to find a spine and try standing upright instead of on all fours. I suspect two different reactions in the Muslim world....the non Arab will listen and maybe think on it. The Arab Muslim may very well use it toward more fanaticism.

[Whitewall]

This is what is feared in Europe today: http://www.twcc.com/articles/2015/01/08/p/paris-attack-raises-fears-of-more-support-for-europe-s-right

Sometimes unsavory people can be right.

[David Duff]

Sometimes, perhaps, maybe ... but their 'wrongs' usually outweigh their 'rights'.

[Whitewall]

I am going to try and beat JK to the punch with this link..
http://malcolmpollack.com/2015/01/07/charlie-hebdo/comment-page-1/

[JK]

http://archbishopcranmer.com/archbishop-of-mosul-your-liberal-and-democratic-principles-are-worth-nothing-here/

[Whitewall]

JK, interesting link there. Sort of does the NY Times thing-make the comfortable uncomfortable. Europe, North America or down under, all face the same thing.

[JK]

Just so Whitewall.

But for what it's worth, and until such time as sufficient information becomes more generally available, I'm tending toward this most recent being AQ as opposed to ISIL. But as you say, "the same thing" effectively.

[jimmy glesga]

Whitewall when you allow religious fundamentalists into your country that hate you and detest religious freedom then do expect to be killed. After all they cull their own fellow muslims because of different view points on a book!
I suspect something rather nasty is going to happen in Europe again.

[Lawrence Duff]

Although it's grim, it could be a lot worse if the Camel-Shaggers weren't sticking one on just about everyone of our enemies just now. This article summarizes it nicely: -

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/neil-barnett/2015/01/the-saudis-oily-game-is-an-ambitious-one-heres-how-to-understand-it/

So that's Iran, Syria, ISIS, Putin, and the Muslim Brotherhood, all kicking the shit out of each other, whilst collectively having the shit kicked out of them by the Saudi's!

This could even trump the last time the West went to the gents while the pub fight kicked off, and came back just in time to pat Uncle Jo on the shoulder and peel him off Adolf's corpse.

I decree that today shall henceforth be known as "Hug-a-Camel-Shagger" day.

Lord SoD

[JK]

Lord SoD?

Reading your link put me in mind of something[s] ol' JK typed on this very blog awhile back. From three months ago;

"You might recall David the Saudis pulling the trigger on the only weapon they had available back in the 70s ... the Oil Shock? You'll note it's not only US produced barrels having the price drop? Two things are afoot *I think* ... Ukraine and impinging on ISIL's revenue streams. Broadly speaking."

And, using the same three-word search term on Dad's archives you can find a very similar assessment from 2012. (The only reason I mention that from 2012 is 'cause I note Mr. Barnett in that link claims he saw the same thing back in March - which I take to mean March of 2014.)
_________

I'd send you Lord SoD an email except, I've had "abit of a computer problem" for some three weeks and until [perhaps as soon as next Monday] can't log onto that account until I get cleared. (I do worry when I am finally, able to log on, there'll be beau coup "funnies" I'll have to sort before I'll be able to send anything.)

[JK]

http://20committee.com/2014/09/25/what-if-everything-you-know-about-terrorism-is-wrong/

[Lawrence Duff]

JK, I remember the comment and I agree, you were right on the money.

Even though cheap oil might be a hindrance to the US shale revolution, I think it's a small price to pay for the extreme pain it's exerting on our enemies.

And the boost to non-energy industries will more than mitigate losses in shale.

So, in summary, if the hairies keep fighting each other, then the only big concern for us in the short-medium term is the self harm caused by the insanity of the Euro currency. And sadly that is a huge problem, imho, that could end very badly.

And in the long term, China.

SoD

[JK]

" ... the self harm caused by the insanity of the Euro currency. And sadly that is a huge problem, imho ... "

"Sadly" Lord SoD?

Fuck the ... well so much for alt-code on a laptop ... Fuck the Eurlo!

(No Andra, the "Naughty Corner" isn't sufficiently naughty for the likes of me - the "L" is very deliberate. Care to guess why?)

[Pops]

You are right Duff - this guy is a dead man walking.

[jimmy glesga]

Pops. He may survive provided he does not take the salute at a military parade.

[Philo Vaihinger]

Missed that about the mass. Thanks for commenting about it.