U.S. House Majority Leader Met Official of Egypt's Banned Muslim Brotherhood on Recent Trip

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

U.S. House Majority Leader Met Official of Egypt's Banned Muslim Brotherhood on Recent Trip
04-07-2007 4:38 PM
By NADIA ABOU EL-MAGD, Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt (Associated Press) -- A top U.S. Democratic congressman met a leading member of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, an outlawed opposition group, during a recent visit to the country, the Islamic fundamentalist group and U.S. officials said Saturday.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer met with the Muslim Brotherhood's parliament leader, Mohammed Saad el-Katatni, twice on Thursday _ once at the parliament building and then at the home of the U.S. ambassador to Egypt, said Brotherhood spokesman Hamdi Hassan.

U.S. Embassy spokesman John Berry would only confirm that Hoyer, who represents Maryland, met with el-Katatni at U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone's home at a reception with other politicians and parliament members.

Though officially banned since 1954, the Brotherhood is tolerated by the government and has become Egypt's largest opposition group and President Hosni Mubarak's most powerful rival.

Read more: http://omaha.cox.net/cci/newsnational/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D8OC0UUO0&_action=validatearticle

[ShortnFiery]

1. Gee, Omaha, like in Nebraska? They are scratching bottom for the least little thing.

It's just sad that they don't realize that the Republicans LOST and their snit fits will not dislodge the Democratic control of Our Congress.

Like in 2000, it's time for us Democrats to say with one voice, "Stop the whining and get over it!" :P

Sore losers?

[madrchsod]

2. i have no idea why he would want to talk to these guys.

is hoyer that stupid?

[wellst0nev0ter]

7. Is The Iqwan On The Terrorism Watch List?

No? Then what's the concern?

[Paulie]

3. So they are banned, but are tolerated by the government and have seats in Parliament?

And met the guy at the U.S. Ambassador's residence, with a bunch of other members of Parliament, which the Residence is de jure U.S. Territory?

Where's the BEEF????

[DumpDavisHogg]

4. There is no beef...

It's just another anti-Democrat smear from the AP.

Look at all the unsavory individuals the Republicans have met with, and there's never a peep from the media about that.

[PittPoliSci]

5. they were just banned recently

maybe two weeks ago. should be interesting to see how this all plays out. the brotherhood has been a notoriously difficult group to control no matter who is in power.

[PittPoliSci]

6. the story is full of inaccuracies about the brotherhood.

yes, they were banned in 51.

Sadat did not ban them while he was running the show, and infact came embrace them early in his career, a move he would later regret.

Mubarak did nothing about their presence till a few weeks ago when he announced something to the effect that there will be no more religiously organized political parties.

i'll be shocked if anything actually happens though.