In coming months, Egypt will need billions in financial aid just to help it pay for basics like food and gas for its desperate population. But the international community is not going to just hand over that kind of money to the Muslim Brotherhood to fill what is likely going to be a permanent deficit; not when the Muslim Brotherhood seems intent on consolidating dictatorial-type power, shutting down all unfriendly media, ethnically cleansing its Christian population and violating its treaty with Israel.

Yet the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood head of state doesn't seem willing to recognize reality:

The record to date is not good: News reports suggest that more than 100,000 Coptic Christians have left Egypt ; there have been new efforts to intimidate the media, and Morsi has moved armored forces into the Sinai without first notifying the Israelis — a requirement of the peace treaty. The administration’s position needs to be clear: If this behavior continues, U.S. support, which will be essential for gaining international economic aid and fostering investment, will not be forthcoming. Softening or fuzzing our response at this point might be good for the Muslim Brotherhood, but it won’t be good for Egypt.

There are ample -- perhaps universal -- examples of Islamist regimes choosing poverty and backwardness over pragmatic policy. Indeed, it is easier for a theocratic fascist regime to impose its will on a hungry and illiterate population than an economically viable and politically free people. It's not hard to see which path the Muslim Brotherhood will choose.

Jonathon Narvey is the Editor of The Propagandist

H/T The 3Ds Blog