Fundamentalists never tolerate moderation

The worst-case scenario is unfolding in Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood has broken its pledge not to seek the presidency.

Since the ouster of Mr. Mubarak, however, many younger and reform-minded members have said they have grown disappointed with Mr. Shater. They say he has enforced an insular and hierarchical culture left over from the group’s decades underground. Mr. Shater led a push to bar Brotherhood members from dissenting from the political stands of its Freedom and Justice Party, and he led the expulsion of those who sought less conservative Islamist politics.

To those who reflexively blame President Obama, a question: Would you have intervened militarily to keep the Murbarak regime in power? Because that’s what it would have taken to prevent last year’s democratic uprising.

America has no business suppressing the will of the people, here or abroad. Unfortunately, the Muslim Brotherhood seems likely to impose its will on Egyptians whether they like it or not.

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