Gingrich: Egypt trial is "Obama hostage crisis"

Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks in Golden, Colo., Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Evan Vucci

GOLDEN, Colorado - Newt Gingrich on Monday compared Egypt's planned trial of 19 Americans to the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis that helped destroy Jimmy Carter's presidency, and hung it around Obama's neck.

"This reminds me exactly of Jimmy Carter and the Iranian hostages. You now have the Obama hostage crisis to resemble the Carter hostage crisis," Gingrich told a half-full ballroom at a Marriott here.

Islamic students and militants took 52 Americans hostage in 1979 in the American Embassy in Tehran and held them for 444 days. They were released on Jan. 20, 1981, right after Ronald Reagan was sworn in to succeed Carter.

The situation in Egypt, while potentially troublesome for Obama, is quite different at this point. Egypt plans to try the Americans on violations of funding laws for foreign nongovernmental organizations. The 19 people have not been allowed to leave the country, but they are not in custody.

A man in the crowd at the Gingrich rally called on the American government to take back the $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid currently going to Egypt. Gingrich responded that if elected president, he would do a lot more than that to combat what he called the "latest product of Obama's belief in an Arab spring" -- the makeup of the Egyptian government after recent legislative elections.

"The largest voting bloc in the new Egyptian government is the Muslim Brotherhood. The second largest group is more radical than the Muslim Brotherhood. So the Muslim Brotherhood are now the moderates," Gingrich said. "This is like the 1930s and this is a mindless capitulation to forces that are contrary to our entire civilization."

The second-largest group in the legislature is the populist, ultraconservative Salafi al-Nour Party, which adheres to a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam.

[bantamei]

I'm of the belief that the CIA intentionally botched the Iran hostage rescue attempt just to embarass Carter so Ray-Gun would get elected because they knew under Ray-Gun the CIA would have a free hand to do anything , including spying on US citizens, and would be held to the law by Carter.

[DCMixMstr]

Plain and simple. Newt needs to just S.T.F.U.

[antoniof123]

Does this guy have brain it seems like the Republicans think they can throw anyone out there anytime and money will buy them what they want.

I think they will miss the boat agian.

[venusvegasvada]

"Gingrich told a half-full ballroom at a Marriott here"

I wonder if the people where there to see Newt "in all my glory" Gingrich or if they were there for something else and Newt just started speaking at them.

[boatdocster]

Neutered - "I'll say anything about anybody and promise whatever you want if you just vote for my sorry fat ass"...

[ProgressNow]

I want to hear more about the Moon Base and Moon statehood!!!!!!!!

[RobAla]

Two comments:
1) President Obama "assumed" incorrectly, that this movement in Egypt was one about democracy. He had no clue. Why are we still considering given Egypt a billion dollars in aid. This is no terrorist group holding Americans hostage, this is the Egyptian government - led by the radical Muslim Brotherhood. Why aren't we yanking the money, and then send a naval fleet to deal with these jerks if they don't listen. Some people might whine about how we should not act in a hostile manner. The Egyptian government is currently acting in a hostile manner against American citizens whose crime is nothing more than promoting democracy. The Egyptian government shows absolutely NO respect for President Obama or the United States.

2) There is CBS article "Hidden" mortgage fee paying for payroll tax cut", which does not allow comments. So, I will put my comment here. This was only "hidden" by the media during the time that Republicans in the House attempted to stop this "payroll deduction". The fact that a two month "payroll cut" (actually a two month defunding of Social Security), being paid for by PERMANENT mortgage tax, was why the Republicans in the House attempted to stop this stupid law.

By far, the explanation given was the President Obama line "pass this bill right away". Most media outlets gave no explanation regarding why the Republicans in the House were against this. Why would any responsible person pass a two month defunding of Social Security (which is in big fiscal trouble) by a PERMANENT mortgage tax? Because this was the plan all along. This was never a payroll cut; it was a twisted method to bring about a permanent tax on mortgages - like the mortgage crisis is over, or something?

I am so sick of dishonest politicians, and I am sick of bias collaborating media outlets that hide the truth just to give Democrats cover. This was "hidden" by a collaborating media.

[AttyFAM]

Gingrich's analogy is way off base. In Iran during the Clinton administration, diplomats - under diplomatic protection - were seized and held captive. That was a major violation of international law. What has happened in Egypt is that 43 private citizens of foreign countries, 19 of them Americans, who have been working for NON-governmental agencies, have been arrested. Private citizens do not enjoy the immunity accorded to diplomats. Just as the USA can arrest 19 Saudis, Afghans, Nigerians, etc. who we say are plotting terrorist acts against the USA, so Egypt can arrest Americans and Europeans on the same grounds. It does not mean that they are right to do so, but it is not a violation of international law, and Gingrich was wrong to claim it on the same footing.

[AttyFAM]

Make that the Carter administration. Sorry.