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Ex-General Vows to End Brotherhood if Elected Ex-General Vows to End Brotherhood if Elected
(17 days later)
CAIRO — Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the former general who led the military takeover here last summer and is expected to become president next month, vowed Monday to eliminate the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that dominated the previous elections. CAIRO — Abdul Fattah el-Sisi, the former general who led the military takeover here last summer and is expected to become president next month, vowed Monday to eliminate the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that dominated the previous elections.
In a televised interview with two supportive talk show hosts that marked the beginning of his presidential campaign, Mr. Sisi insisted that Egyptians had called for an end to the Brotherhood when huge throngs marched on June 30 to protest the rule of its ally, President Mohamed Morsi.In a televised interview with two supportive talk show hosts that marked the beginning of his presidential campaign, Mr. Sisi insisted that Egyptians had called for an end to the Brotherhood when huge throngs marched on June 30 to protest the rule of its ally, President Mohamed Morsi.
“I am not the one who ended it. You the Egyptians ended it,” Mr. Sisi said. “They said ‘no’ on June 30 and they are saying ‘no’ now.”“I am not the one who ended it. You the Egyptians ended it,” Mr. Sisi said. “They said ‘no’ on June 30 and they are saying ‘no’ now.”
He blamed the Brotherhood for violence seemingly committed by distinct and more militant groups lashing out against the takeover and accused it of “political stupidity and religious stupidity” for its continuing protests against the new government. He declared bluntly that any “reconciliation” with the Brotherhood “will not work” because of the group’s ideology.He blamed the Brotherhood for violence seemingly committed by distinct and more militant groups lashing out against the takeover and accused it of “political stupidity and religious stupidity” for its continuing protests against the new government. He declared bluntly that any “reconciliation” with the Brotherhood “will not work” because of the group’s ideology.
“We are unable to live together,” he said.“We are unable to live together,” he said.
Mr. Sisi’s emphatic comments were his first indication that he might seek the long-term eradication of the Islamist group. It was born as a revival movement more than 80 years ago, grew to include hundreds of thousands of members and networks of clinics and schools, and then dominated Egypt’s free parliamentary and presidential elections in 2011 and 2012.Mr. Sisi’s emphatic comments were his first indication that he might seek the long-term eradication of the Islamist group. It was born as a revival movement more than 80 years ago, grew to include hundreds of thousands of members and networks of clinics and schools, and then dominated Egypt’s free parliamentary and presidential elections in 2011 and 2012.
The military-backed government installed by Mr. Sisi last summer has killed more than a thousand Morsi supporters at street protests and jailed more than 10,000 other political opponents, most of them Islamists, as part of a sweeping crackdown. Yet given the Brotherhood’s deep roots in Egyptian society, some of Mr. Sisi’s close allies have hinted privately that they believed the new government could ultimately reach some sort of accommodation with the group, just as former President Hosni Mubarak once did.The military-backed government installed by Mr. Sisi last summer has killed more than a thousand Morsi supporters at street protests and jailed more than 10,000 other political opponents, most of them Islamists, as part of a sweeping crackdown. Yet given the Brotherhood’s deep roots in Egyptian society, some of Mr. Sisi’s close allies have hinted privately that they believed the new government could ultimately reach some sort of accommodation with the group, just as former President Hosni Mubarak once did.
Mr. Sisi, who was named defense minister by Mr. Morsi in August 2012, had issued a vague call for “reconciliation” at the time of the military takeover. But his comments in the interview, with the talk show hosts Ibrahim Eissa and Lamees Hadidi, appeared to extinguish any such hopes.Mr. Sisi, who was named defense minister by Mr. Morsi in August 2012, had issued a vague call for “reconciliation” at the time of the military takeover. But his comments in the interview, with the talk show hosts Ibrahim Eissa and Lamees Hadidi, appeared to extinguish any such hopes.
Mr. Sisi said that security forces had stopped two assassination attempts on his life, but either the interviewers did not ask for further details or, more likely, their attempts to do so were edited out of the video.Mr. Sisi said that security forces had stopped two assassination attempts on his life, but either the interviewers did not ask for further details or, more likely, their attempts to do so were edited out of the video.
Still, Mr. Sisi was animated and amiable in his public debut as a candidate, wearing a dark-blue suit and light-blue tie, leaning over the table to gesture with open hands and at one point almost winking at the hosts. He celebrated the Egyptian woman, who he said worried about the country with the same fear for her children “that makes her turn off the lights and turn off the gas before she leaves the house.”Still, Mr. Sisi was animated and amiable in his public debut as a candidate, wearing a dark-blue suit and light-blue tie, leaning over the table to gesture with open hands and at one point almost winking at the hosts. He celebrated the Egyptian woman, who he said worried about the country with the same fear for her children “that makes her turn off the lights and turn off the gas before she leaves the house.”
Mr. Sisi introduced himself as a Muslim and spoke at length about religious matters, suggesting that it was a president’s job to introduce God to the public — in the right way — and to improve the public character. Although not “a preacher,” he said, the president should be “alert and responsible.”Mr. Sisi introduced himself as a Muslim and spoke at length about religious matters, suggesting that it was a president’s job to introduce God to the public — in the right way — and to improve the public character. Although not “a preacher,” he said, the president should be “alert and responsible.”
He sought to strike an inclusive chord, mentioning that he had grown up in Cairo near the “Jewish alley” and main synagogue, and that he listened to the bells of a nearby Coptic church. He sought to strike an inclusive chord, mentioning that he had grown up in Cairo near the “Jewish alley” and main synagogue, and that he listened to the bells of a nearby Coptic church. 
He said he opposed nepotism, though he acknowledged that two of his sons worked for the government — one in general intelligence and the other in a military-dominated anti-corruption agency. A third son, he said, had been rejected by the Foreign Ministry after twice failing its entrance exam.He said he opposed nepotism, though he acknowledged that two of his sons worked for the government — one in general intelligence and the other in a military-dominated anti-corruption agency. A third son, he said, had been rejected by the Foreign Ministry after twice failing its entrance exam.
In several places, his tone was unmistakably tough. When an interviewer used an informal term for the military that sometimes carries a negative connotation — like the term “junta” in English usage — Mr. Sisi interrupted sternly. “I will not allow you to say this anymore, honestly,” he said, recommending the terms “military institution” or “armed forces.”In several places, his tone was unmistakably tough. When an interviewer used an informal term for the military that sometimes carries a negative connotation — like the term “junta” in English usage — Mr. Sisi interrupted sternly. “I will not allow you to say this anymore, honestly,” he said, recommending the terms “military institution” or “armed forces.”
As president, he said, he would be ready to tolerate criticism. But if it went too far and became “offensive,” he added, “there is a law and it will be enforced.”As president, he said, he would be ready to tolerate criticism. But if it went too far and became “offensive,” he added, “there is a law and it will be enforced.”