Former Muslim Brotherhood Deputy Guide Mohamed Habib said in an interview with Al-Masry al-Youm that it was the United States who had pressured the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to allow the Muslim Brotherhood to reach the presidency, pointing to visits by former US Ambassador Anne Patterson, Senator John McCain, Foreign Secretary Kerry and his assistant, William Burns, who he said are pro-Zionists.
He also said that Mohamed Badie became the supreme guide of the group in a deal to accept Gamal Mubarak as the successor to his father's presidency.
He added that the Brotherhood lost balance when it was surprised to suddenly find itself in power.
Q: How were you threatened when you said that you were going to publish your memoirs about the time you had spent with the Muslim Brotherhood group?
A: A group member called me to talk me out of it. I told him that everyday I do not not care whether or not I will return home at night. Later, Mohamed Ali Bishr and Mahmoud Abu Zeid visited me at home for the same purpose, but I told them that I write whatever my conscience dictates.
I did not want to publish the memoirs at first, but when I saw what the Brotherhood did, I thought people should know about the risks they are facing, so should the group members and their supporters.
Q: Why did the Brotherhood fall?
A: In my six years as deputy guide I found that the leaders of the group were liars. I thought credence was our asset.
Q: Did you not discover this before?
A: Confidence in the leaders is the basis of that group.
Q: The group is accused of inciting its followers to destruction, bombing and sabotage. What do you make of that?
A: We should not forget that the group never dreamt of reaching power. It lost balance when it was surprised to suddenly find itself in power. People like al-Erian, al-Katatni and al-Beltagy were once nice, then they became arrogant.
Q: Arrogant in what way?
A: An American lawyer told me in November 2011 that the Brotherhood members were always keen to meet with him before they came into power. Afterwards, they stopped bothering. I told him this was the beginning of the end.
Anyone would feel frustrated if he suddenly found himself sitting at home after he was an important man praised by all, let alone a president who suddenly found himself in prison.
Q: Why does the Brotherhood still persist in defying the regime?
A: Because of US support. It was the United States who brought them to power. Remember the visits from former US Ambassador Anne Patterson, Senator John McCain, Foreign Secretary Kerry, and his assistant, William Burns? They are all pro-Zionists who pressured the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to allow the Muslim Brotherhood to reach power.
Have we forgotten how the Brotherhood supporters cheered in Rabaa Square when it was announced from the podium that a US military barge was heading to the Egyptian coast?
Q: How did the group end up like this?
A: Because it has succumbed to one person, namely Khairat al-Shater. Anything he says, goes.
Q: What made him so influential?
A: When giants like Omar al-Tilmisani, Mohamed Hamed Aboul Nasr, Mostafa Mashhour and Mamoun al-Hudaybi disappear, midgets like Shater and Mahdi Akef appear.
Q: But how did Mahdi Akef become supreme guide if you say he was not qualified?
A: I gave him my vote, which is a tradition between contestants for the post. He won seven votes and I won six. The guidance bureau and the international wing of the organization did not believe he won. It was a disaster.
Q: Why?
A: He was nervous and he clashed with all bureau members in each and every meeting. He never solved problems. Let me tell you something only a few know. The problem with the Wasat Party was all because of Akef.
Q: Was he deliberately chosen for his weakness so that someone else could do whatever he wanted?
A: I think Shater, Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh and Mahmoud Ezzat played a role in this. Had the guidance bureau been strong, and had it relied on the Shura in its decisions, it would have paralyzed Akef completely. Add to it the principle of blind obedience that rules the group.
Q: How did Badie become supreme guide?
A: In a deal with Gamal Mubarak, the real ruler of the country at the time. Badie announced that he had no problem with Mubarak or his son succeeding him.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
