The Future of Political Islam | The IRGC's Expanding Presence in Latin America

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Volume 14, Issue 66

"By putting the Palestinian-Israeli conflict under a super microscope, these debates end up focusing primarily on useless elements such as supposed municipal building violations and small local conflicts. This is a debate on the Middle East, home to radical totalitarian regimes, nuclear project[s] and terror armies. But hey, if you prefer to focus on the conflict of merely 1% of the region, at least focus [on] removing its biggest obstacles to peace."

—Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN Gilad Erdan, July 26
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The Future of Political Islam


** By Hussein Aboubakr Mansour | July 29, 2022
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Since the beginnings of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in the interwar years, the modern political phenomenon that is political Islam has shown a remarkable ability of evolution and adaptation. This ability made the ideological movement and its offshoots one of the few political movements to survive and maintain a consistent ideological appeal throughout a century unprecedented in its pace of social, economic, and political changes. Thus, it is only logical to assume political Islam might be down, but it's not out, and societies need to preempt its next wave.

When Hassan Al-Banna started the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt in 1928, there was little to the movement except for the mobilization around Islamic symbols, the quasi-fascist militant posture, the grand sloganeering, the ideological antisemitism, and the organizational structure. In all of this, the Muslim Brotherhood was not unique but part of the phenomenon of fascist youth groups that started in early 20th century Europe spreading globally afterward. It is safe to say that political Islam had no actual ideological content in its beginnings, and I argue that today it largely remains so. Whatever ideological content political Islam acquires, it acquires through imitating its competitive ideological environment not dissimilarly from other fascist movements. This dynamic of constant unwitting imitation explains the changes the movement goes through and its ability to adopt ideological contents, making it relevant to different generations of young men and women living through different
socioeconomic and political circumstances. In short, for political Islam, the Islamic symbols are static; their ideological content isn't.

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Since the Iranian regime toppled the Shah in 1979, their goal has been to export the Islamic revolution. The regime views Latin America as an easy target through which to spread anti-American propaganda and flex Iranian influence. In addition to a missionary network that includes media outlets, educational institutions and mosques, Iran has also worked to strengthen its ties with Venezuela, possibly even providing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with long-range missiles ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) capable of reaching the US.

There is now an “air bridge” between Iran and Venezuela, an inconspicuous way to transport senior regime members, intelligence officials and weapons between the two countries under the guise of a passenger or cargo route. In May, a Boeing 747 cargo plane landed in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, with no cargo but only the 18-member crew–consisting of seven Iranians and 11 Venezuelans–including a board member ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) of the U.S.-sanctioned ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) Iranian airline Fars Air Qeshm ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) , and a senior member ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Many of these flights coincide with a spike in Iranian activity in Latin America, including in similar-minded countries like Cuba and Nicaragua.

What is the IRGC - which is supposed to be under international sanctions - doing on our doorstep in Latin America? Where is the Biden Administration in tackling this looming threat? Here to discuss this will be Emanuele Ottolenghi.

About our Speaker: Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi is a senior fellow at FDD and an expert at FDD’s Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) focused on Hezbollah’s Latin America illicit threat networks and Iran’s history of sanctions evasion. His research has examined Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including its links to the country’s energy sector and procurement networks. His areas of expertise also include the EU’s Middle East policymaking, transatlantic relations, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and Israel’s domestic politics. Prior to joining FDD, Emanuele headed the Transatlantic Institute in Brussels and taught Israel Studies at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University.

He is author of The Pasdaran: Inside Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) , Iran: The Looming Crisis ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) , and Under a Mushroom Cloud: Europe, Iran and the Bomb ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) . Emanuele blogs at The Hill. His columns have also appeared in leading outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and London’s The Sunday Times. He obtained his PhD in political theory at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, preceded by undergraduate studies in political science at the University of Bologna.
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** Saudi textbooks remove references to violent jihad ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - JNS
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** Mystery Cargo ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - The Dispatch
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** Biden adviser says return to Iran deal "highly unlikely" in near future ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Axios
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** Another IRGC official interrogated by Mossad in Iran - report ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Jerusalem Post
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** Iran says Israel-linked agents planned attack on defence plant ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Reuters
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** Iran will keep IAEA cameras turned off until nuclear deal is restored ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Reuters
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** Ayatollah Khamenei’s ‘Resistance Economy’ ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID)
- Wall Street Journal
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** EU foreign policy chief says Iran deal now on table is best one possible ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Times of Israel
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** Iran is close to a nuclear bomb, and it’s time to decide what to do ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID)
- Center for Security Policy
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** Iran Says No Haste In Nuclear Talks Although Hopes For A Deal ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Iran International
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** The Iran Nuclear Deal’s Convulsive Death ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID)
- Wall Street Journal
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Jewish student sues Leeds University 'after being given fail in sociology assignment for not criticising Israel' ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Daily Mail

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Russia Moves to Close Agency Handling Emigration to Israel ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - New York Times

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University of Southern California Faces Federal Probe Over Harassment of Pro-Israel Student Leader ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Algemeiner

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CUNY is ‘pervasively hostile’ to Jewish students: complaint ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - New York Post

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There is a lot of antisemitic hate speech on social media – and algorithms are partly to blame ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID)
- New Haven Register

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Why New York Police Released the Man Who Tried To Stab a Jewish Republican ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID)
- Washington Free Beacon

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Morocco, Israel add legal links to growing list of cooperation deals on Sa’ar visit ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID)
- Times of Israel

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Biden hailed Yemen truce in Saudi visit, but war is far from over ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Washington Post

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Biden's Trip: A Total Disappointment to Allies ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Gatestone Institute

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How an Israeli journalist may have torpedoed Israel-Saudi relations ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - JNS

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Stability in Libya and the Maghreb following the normalization with Israel ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Alma

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** Turkey: Torture Has Reached "Unprecedented Levels" ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Gatestone Institute
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** Would Nasrallah really risk war with Israel over the Karish gas rig? - analysis ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Jerusalem Post
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Tensions high between Israel, Russia over looming ban of Jewish Agency ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID)
- Washington Post

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B’nai B’rith calls to dismiss UN probe against Israel over members’ ‘odious remarks’ ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID)
- Times of Israel

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Israel's Supreme Court rules 'disloyal' citizens can be stripped of status ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Reuters

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Israeli Navy sinks Palestinian vessel allegedly smuggling 'equipment' to Hamas ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - FOX News

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Jerusalem stabbing attack: 41-year-old in moderate condition ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Jerusalem Post

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Biden’s promises to Palestinians probably won’t help foster peace ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Washington Post

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PA commits identity theft regarding South Africa and Namibia -opinion ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Jerusalem Post

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** Biden lacks coherent strategy on Iran that is 'weeks' from building nuclear bomb, aids Russia: Expert ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - FOX News
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** Pentagon reviews removing Morocco as host of largest military exercise in Africa ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Defense News
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White House to name Shelley Greenspan new Jewish liaison ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - Jewish Insider

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Iron Dome: Coming Soon To The U.S. Marine Corps? ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID) - 1945

Give to EMET ([link removed](Y_COPY_01)&mc_cid=2a114ffa7c&mc_eid=UNIQID)

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