Younger Egyptians are more progressive

"While the Muslim Brotherhood continues to be supportive of Hamas, hostile to Israel and very critical of U.S. foreign policy, the group in recent years has become more pragmatic and moderate in its positions thanks to a younger generation of more progressive and worldly figures in their 50s and 60s taking on more leadership positions from the group's old guard.

Several influential figures within the Muslim Brotherhood indicated to me that if they reached a position of political power, they would not seek to tear up the peace treaty with Israel and believed it necessary to work to contain Iranian influence. Their flexibility to change such policies would in any case be constrained by the red-lines of the powerful Egyptian army, which will likely continue to a play a key national role whatever the fate of Mubarak.

All this should encourage bolder words from the Obama administration on Egypt. In the coming weeks it is very likely that al Qaeda's number two, Ayman al Zawahiri, will release a message seeking to exploit the situation in Egypt to his terrorist organization's advantage."

Thanks Jeri for posting the link on fb.