Should the U.S. Support Islamists?

Two Middle East experts held a formal discussion about whether the United States should rely on Islamists. Mr. Gerecht, former member of the Central Intelligence Agency, argued that democratization efforts should be encouraged, but not at the expense of giving opportunity to groups, including Hamas, that the United States does not want to see come to power in the Islamic World. He said that the propagation of democracy could leave the Middle East suffering from traumas and in the short term be possibly anti-American. Mr. Pipes debated that there should be a gradual transition, rather than intense policies on democratization of the region. During their debate, he two experts spoke about the political process in Iran and Iraq. Following their discussion, Mr. Gerecht and Mr. Pipes responded to questions and comments from members of the audience.

Mr. Pipes had written that “radical Islam is the problem and moderate Islam is the solution.” Mr. Gerecht had written, "Only those who have ha close