This briefing was by David Goldman, a columnist who joined PJ Media in August 2011 after nearly 10 years of essaying as the Pseudonymous “Spengler” at Asia Times Online and two years of editing and writing at First Things.  He’s also the author of How Civilizations Die: (And Why Islam Is Dying Too).  Mr. Goldman’s career has been split between the financial and cultural worlds, and he has written extensively on cultural and religious matters.  This bifurcated career focus provides Mr. Goldman with a unique opportunity to examine both the practical and speculative aspects of life.  This particular seminar focused on the increasing problem of Egypt, which is now controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood.  Since 1979, America has given Egypt approximately 1.5 billion dollars a year in taxpayer funds.  Since the June election of President Mohammad Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood , we have seen an attack on the U.S. embassy, a “bloodless coup” which replaced top Egyptian military commanders in the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces with Muslim Brotherhood members or sympathizers, and an increase in smuggling operations into Gaza.  We have seen the suppression of the press by firing, and in some cases arresting, journalists not sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, and the movement of Egyptian troops into the Sinai without prior consultation with Israel, which is in violation of the Camp David Treaty.  Additionally the Muslim Brotherhood leadership in Egypt now openly discusses whether the Camp David Accords should be cancelled altogether.  Most recently, Morsi suspended judicial oversight for all of his decisions.
This event was extremely well attended, with a large bipartisan audience of congressional staffers.