Is There Any Radical Islamist Group The Obama Administration Won't Talk To?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Sunday that the U.S. would not intervene militarily in Syria as it is doing in Libya, and drew a distinction between Libya's Muammar Qaddafi and Syria's Bashar Assad. The latter, she explained, is seen by congressmen from both parties as “a reformer.”

...Even as Clinton explained the fine differences between Qaddafi and Assad, videos from Al-Sanamayan, near Daraa, appeared to document a massacre of civilians as it occurred.
Arutz Sheva, Clinton Calls Assad 'Reformer' as Video Shows Massacre, March 27, 2011

I suppose if a leader who murders his own people is a reformer, then the legitimacy of a group that tried to assassinate Nasser should be a slam dunk:

The United States will resume limited contacts with Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed on Thursday, saying it was in Washington's interests to deal with parties committed to non-violent politics.

While Clinton portrayed the administration's decision as a continuation of an earlier policy, it reflects a subtle shift in that U.S. officials will be able to deal directly with officials of the Islamist movement who are not members of parliament.

..."We believe, given the changing political landscape in Egypt, that it is in the interests of the United States to engage with all parties that are peaceful, and committed to non-violence, that intend to compete for the parliament and the presidency," Clinton told reporters at a news conference.

Check out Barry Rubin, who analyzes how the media covers for the Obama administration's decision to deal directly with this radical Islamist group.

That's right: as long as you do not kill people right in front of Hillary Clinton, you too can be a reformer--"peaceful and committed to non-violence".

And of course, once you start saying that Assad is a reformer and the Muslim Brotherhood is peaceful and committed to non-violence--you can't stop there, can you?

With that in mind, Jonathan Tobin asks, U.S. Recognizes Muslim Brotherhood. Will Hamas Be Next?

The recognition of the Brotherhood also calls into question the administration’s continued adherence to a policy of no recognition for the group’s Palestinian ally: Hamas. Though Clinton sought to downplay the significance of the move, it isn’t much of a leap from talks with the Muslim Brotherhood to recognition of a Fatah-Hamas Palestinian coalition. It is no harder to justify recognition of Hamas as merely bowing to the realities of Palestinian politics than it is for her to make the same argument for dealing with the Brotherhood. All it takes is a mindset that no longer thinks of Islamist extremists as enemies of the West and Israel.

And that mindset is well in place.

And don't forget: already last year, the Obama administration was looking to strengthen the "moderate" elements in Hezbollah.

You have to wonder: is there any radical Islamist group that the Obama administration will not talk to?

Technorati Tag: Obama and Clinton and Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood.