Moderation in the Middle East?

For John, BLUF:  Something we can't fix.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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In The International New York Times, Dr Hussein Ibish writes about "Jordan’s Divided Brotherhood".

A dramatic split in the Muslim Brotherhood of Jordan could be one of the most important developments in the recent evolution of Islamist movements.  And a crucial experiment in developing a new modus vivendi between Arab states and moderate Islamist groups may well be unfolding in the process.

Yes, this would be an important step forward, a step along the path to reduced conflict.

Here is the end of the OpEd.

Arab societies have Islamist constituencies, and therefore will have Islamist parties and organizations.  Ultimately, even those states most opposed to the Muslim Brotherhood must think about how to accommodate those supporters.

Much now depends on the outcome of the Jordanian Brotherhood’s split.  It seems almost certain that one faction will come out on top and the party will reunify.  If the moderates prevail, this could provide a new model — alongside Ennahda — for other Arab societies seeking to integrate Islamist constituencies into stable political systems.

A new model would be good.  What the world doesn't need is internecine war in the Middle East for the next 30, 40 or 100 years.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Hussein Ibish is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.