Former Michigan Congressman Pete Hoekstra says President Barack Obama’s embrace of the Muslim Brotherhood as Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi rose to power has destroyed America’s credibility in the Mideast.
“The president believed that with the power of his personality, he could fundamentally change the nature of the relationship with radical jihadist elements and their view of the United States,” Hoekstra told “The Steve Malzberg Show” on Newsmax TV.
“They saw it as weakness, they took advantage of it, they're taking advantage of it all across the Middle East. America's credibility is ruined.”
Hoekstra, former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said the Egypt’s new government — which came to power with the military’s overthrow of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood — is by no means perfect. But, warts and all, it is superior to what was in place.
“They represent the interests that were aligned with the United States for 30 years, they kept stability in Northern Africa, they protected the borders with Israel, they kept the Suez Canal open, they maintained peace and stability,” Hoekstra said.
“I will take that, an imperfect government like that that gets those kinds of outcomes versus what we saw with the Muslim Brotherhood over the last two years.”
Hundreds have been killed across Egypt in the past week as the government fights Muslim Brotherhood supporters demanding the reinstatement of Morsi.
He said that while the Muslim Brotherhood was in control, it sanctioned attacks on the Christian minority.
“Now that they've been overthrown, they're blaming it on the Christian minority — and it is absolutely brutal and horrific. It's why we should never have partnered with the Muslim Brotherhood or sanctioned them or recognized them,” he said.
“They are a terrorist organization. They are, pardon the language … hell bent on destroying everything that American stands for … We're seeing the true character and nature of the Muslim Brotherhood now that they're out of power.”
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The Washington Times reported the Obama administration gave a New York Times journalist exclusive access to high-level national security officials for a book which divulged classified information on the nation’s cyber war on Iran's nuclear program.
Hoekstra is not surprised.
“This is just a pattern that we've seen. When intelligence works for them and it enables them to move their message forward, they'll use it,” he said.
“They did it with the killing of [Osama] bin Laden. They leaked secret details which had devastating consequences for national security.”
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