Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracy Realities

Conspiracy theories sometimes become conspiracy realities. When this happens, those who attempt to dismiss them become more kooky than those who point to them. The global warming fraud is a prime example. It is a ‘conspiracy reality’, despite its defenders painting the opposition as ‘climate deniers’. Another case in point is the saga of Huma Abedin, former deputy chief of staff to Hillary Clinton. To this day, Abedin’s defenders play the conspiracy theory card while completely ignoring facts.

The latest example comes courtesy of Josh Rogin and Eli Lake via the Daily Beast. In an otherwise informative article about U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Anne Patterson, and her having little respect for the forces who opposed Mursi, they write:

Back in Washington, officials and experts debate whether or not the failure of U.S. policy in Egypt since the 2011 ouster of Hosni Mubarak is really Patterson’s fault. Many point to the fact that Patterson argued internally for a policy focused on Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, even pushing for a Morsi visit to the White House that never occurred.

She personally pushed for then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to visit Cairo last June, a trip that turned out to be a disaster as Egyptians pelted Clinton’s motorcade with tomatoes, chanted about Monica Lewinsky, and promoted conspiracy theories that Clinton aide Huma Abedin was part of a Muslim Brotherhood conspiracy to control the Egyptian government.

Instead of honestly investigating the validity of these claims, Rogin and Lake dismiss them. This has been a common trait of the Huma defenders (Rogin and Lake have been added to the list). For example, Abedin’s mother – Saleha Mahmoud Abedin – is one of 63 leaders in the Muslim Sisterhood.

You know who else is?

Mursi’s wife. Who do you think Huma was pulling for in Egypt’s election last year? Before you answer, yes, she still has a close relationship with her mother. She coordinated Hillary’s visit to Dar al-Hekma University in Saudi Arabia, where Saleha is a vice dean. We still have not seen her Form 86, which she would have been required to fill out to get the security clearance she received.

 Hillary at Dar al-Hekma University in 2010 with Saleha Abedin (left). Huma and Hillary (right). Conspiracy theory or conspiracy reality?

Hillary at Dar al-Hekma University in 2010 with Saleha Abedin (left). Huma and Hillary (right). Conspiracy theory or conspiracy reality?

In their article, Rogin and Lake paint Patterson as the face of “in Egypt of America’s policy failure there”. In particular, they focus on a speech Patterson gave on June 18th, about two weeks prior to Mursi’s removal. Here is the relevant excerpt:

“Some say that street action will produce better results than elections. To be honest, my government and I are deeply skeptical.”

The irony is that in honing in on Patterson’s dismissive attitude toward a force that ultimately proved her very wrong, Rogin and Lake risk doing the very same thing relative to the case against Huma Abedin, which is very strong.

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