Muslim Brotherhood to Seek the Presidency in Egypt

This just seemed impossible at the time, that the Muslim Brotherhood --- once banned by Mubarak --- would come to power after the toppling of the secular regime.

But here it comes, at New York Times, "Islamist Group Breaks Pledge to Stay Out of Race in Egypt":

CAIRO — The Muslim Brotherhood nominated its chief strategist and financier Khairat el-Shater on Saturday as its candidate to become Egypt’s first president since Hosni Mubarak, breaking a pledge not to seek the top office and a monopoly on power.

Mr. Shater, 62, a millionaire business tycoon, was a political prisoner until just a year ago. Because of the Brotherhood’s unrivaled grass-roots organization and popular appeal, he is now a presidential front-runner.

He is being nominated at a moment of escalating tension between the Brotherhood and Egypt’s military rulers. The Brotherhood, an Islamist group outlawed under Mr. Mubarak, already dominates the Parliament and the assembly writing a new Constitution. It is now demanding to replace the military-led cabinet and is tussling with the military council over questions like the degree of civilian oversight of the military under the new charter.

His candidacy is likely to unnerve the West and has already outraged Egyptian liberals, who wonder what other pledges of moderation the Brotherhood may abandon.

Via Atlas Shrugs, "SHOCKER: Muslim Brotherhood Breaks Pledge to Stay Out of Race in Egypt."