While I am not sad to see Hosni Mubarak gone nor do I believe that the status quo ante was tenable, the idea that the Muslim Brotherhood has transformed itself into some sort of benevolent force is the type of nonsense that only Middle Eastern Studies academics can peddle. Academics and journalists who sat down with Muslim Brotherhood interlocutors and believed what the Brethren’s self-described moderates and technocrats told them were not path breaking; rather, they were useful idiots.

From a mass rally for the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate Muhammad Mursi aired on Egyptian television on May 1, and transcribed by MEMRI:

Safwat Higazi : We can see how the dream of the Islamic Caliphate is being realized, Allah willing, by Dr. Muhammad Mursi and his brothers, his supporters, and his political party. We can see how the great dream, shared by us all – that of the United States of the Arabs… The United States of the Arabs will be restored, Allah willing. The United States of the Arabs will be restored by this man and his supporters.

The capital of the Caliphate – the capital of the United States of the Arabs – will be Jerusalem, Allah willing…

Ceremony leader : Mursi will liberate Gaza tomorrow.

Crowds : Mursi will liberate Gaza tomorrow.

Ceremony leader : I am an Egyptian and proud of it.

Crowds : I am an Egyptian and proud of it.

Ceremony leader : Mursi will liberate Gaza tomorrow.

Crowds : Mursi will liberate Gaza tomorrow.

Ceremony leader : Mursi will liberate Gaza tomorrow.

Crowds : Mursi will liberate Gaza tomorrow.

Ceremony leader : Say: “Allah Akbar.”

Crowds : Allah Akbar.

Ceremony leader : Say: “Allah Akbar.”

Crowds : Allah Akbar.

Ceremony leader : Say: “Allah Akbar.”

Allah Akbar.

Safwat Higazi : Our capital shall not be Cairo, Mecca, or Medina. It shall be Jerusalem, Allah willing. Our cry shall be: “Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem.” Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem.

Crowds : Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem.

Crowds : Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem.

Safwat Higazi : Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem.

Crowds : Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem.

Ceremony leader : Banish the sleep from the eyes of all Jews.

Come on, you lovers of martyrdom, you are all Hamas.

From the eyes of all Jews…

Come on, you lovers of martyrdom, you are all Hamas.

Banish the sleep from the eyes of all Jews.

Come on, you lovers of martyrdom, you are all Hamas.

Forget about the whole world, forget about all the conferences.

Brandish your weapons… Say your prayers…

In awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Yemeni activist Tawakkul Karman, Thorbjoern Jagland, head of the five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee, said they chose Karman, not simply because of her work, but because Karman belongs to a Muslim movement with links to the Muslim Brotherhood, “which in the West is perceived as a threat to democracy.” Jagland added, “I don’t believe that. There are many signals that, that kind of movement can be an important part of the solution.”

Alas, in Egypt at least, the only solution to which the Muslim Brotherhood’s populist rhetoric appears to aspire is a Final Solution.