The CIA cultivated the Muslim Brotherhood to counter Nasser’s pan-Arab nationalism

Evidence

One lesser-known aspect of the Eisenhower Doctrine was the “Islam strategy.” This strategy consisted of bolstering Islamist organizations against secular nationalists and trying to create an Islamic pole of attraction in King Saud of Saudi Arabia. In a letter to a confidant in the early fifties, Eisenhower said that “we wanted to explore the possibilities of building up King Saud as a counterweight to Nasser. The king was a logical choice in this regard; he at least professed anti-Communism, and he enjoyed, on religious grounds, a high standing among all Arab nations.” Some administrators even began to develop the notion of Saud as a kind of “Islamic Pope.” A year after Eisenhower wrote his letter about Saud, he received Said Ramadan, the son-in-law of the Muslim Brotherhood’s founder Hassan al-Banna, at the White House. Even though the Brotherhood had resorted to violent actions, killing several Egyptian officials, it was to become a part of the United States’ strategy in the Middle East. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 225 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

At the same time, however, we also find instances of collaboration and cooperation with colonial powers. In the 1950s, Khomeini, who famously denounced the United States as the “great Satan,” took part in CIA-orchestrated demonstrations against Mohammed Mossadegh; his mentor developed close relations with and took large sums of money from the CIA. When the United States sent troops to Lebanon in 1958, and Britain to Jordan, the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood joined in on the US/British side to help crush the nationalist uprising in both countries. In short, Islamist groups are often self-serving entities rather than principled anti-imperialists. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 370 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: The US hosted the Muslim Brotherhood despite its violence against Egypt; The CIA deliberately cultivated Islamist groups as Cold War counterweights to Nasserism — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 389; Pan-Arab anticolonial unity prompted CIA support for the Muslim Brotherhood (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Pan-Arab anticolonial unity prompted CIA support for the Muslim Brotherhood #corroborates (0.98)
• The US courted even a violent Muslim Brotherhood against Nasser #corroborates (0.85) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 225
• Nasser’s Arab socialism actively suppressed the Muslim Brotherhood and clerical power #complicates (0.80) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 311
• The same Islamist figures who denounced the US conspired with the CIA against nationalists #corroborates (0.80) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 370
• US officials welcomed Saudi Islamicization as a Cold War counterweight to Nasser #expands (0.80) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 390
• The US welcomed Muslim Brotherhood leaders despite their political assassinations. #corroborates (0.78)
• Washington hosted the Muslim Brotherhood’s leadership while branding Brotherhood violence acceptable #corroborates (0.75)