Letter: Brotherhood's allies well in Iraq

In regard to Cathy Young's column "The West watches Egypt with hope and worry" [Opinion, May 25], it is clear that the hypocrisy never ends.

Before Young informs us of the potential danger of the Muslim Brotherhood gaining ground in Egypt, she should review recent history. The largest Sunni political party in Iraq is the Iraqi Islamist Party, formed many years ago from the Muslim Brotherhood. It was persecuted under Saddam Hussein into near oblivion. And now it is part of the government formed under Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and doing credibly well in elections.

Young should know that more than 4,000 Americans gave their lives to enable groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood to take part in democracy in Iraq. Not to mention the $1 trillion we spent building Iraqi democracy.

Where was the outrage about our role in giving a voice to the Muslim Brotherhood in Iraq? Young does not like the results in Egypt, but at least we did not spend one dime nor lose one American life allowing that voice there.

Jim Finlay, Sayville