Egypt's Military Doesn't Buy Deomcracy Claim

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August 3, 2013
All Rights Reserved.                                      

             Since 59-year-old Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sissi toppled the democratically elected government of 62-year-old Mohamed Morsi July 3, the Muslim Brotherhood has decried coup d’etat, blasting the military for upending a duly elected government.  Faced with Muslim Brotherhood protests, sit-ins and demonstrations around Cairo, el-Sissi walks a dangerous line dispersing the Brotherhood in peaceful ways.  Nearly 300 protesters—largely Muslim Brotherhood—have lost their lives since protests began shortly after Morsi’s ouster.  Talking less aggressively, the Brotherhood has modified its demands, especially when it comes to reinstating Morsi.  “I respect and hold in regard the demands of the masses that went out on June 30 but I will not build on the military coup,” said Brotherhood spokesman Tarek el-Malt.  Brotherhood spokesmen don’t admit they brought the problem on themselves.

             Shortly after Morsi took office June 30, 2012, the Brotherhood bypassed the Supreme Judicial Court and suspended the Egyptian Constitution, rendering Morsi and his lieutenants immune to oversight.  Whether admitted to or not, Morsi allowed the Brotherhood to impose sharia law [strict Islamic law] on the historically secular Arab country.  Whether controlled by the military or not since founded by Gen. Mohammad Naguib June 18, 1953, Egypt was a secular state, with strong religious representation from Muslims, Coptic Christians and other lesser minorities like Jews.  Morsi’s rise to power coincided with the Muslim Brotherhood, whose Islamic radicals pushed for an Islamic state since founded in 1928 by Muslim scholar Hassan al-Banna.  Al-Banna worked hard in the early days to rid Egypt of British rule, eventually realizing a U.N.-recognized independent state.

             With el-Sissi asserting control and casualties rising, the Brotherhood has struck a more conciliatory tone.  “You can’t believe that there are people who don’t aspire for authority,” said el-Sissi, rejecting the Brotherhood’s accusations that he seeks dictatorship over Egypt.  Egypt’s military would like to see new elections but doesn’t want a repetition of strict Islamic rule.  When Morsi was named June 24 the first elected leader in Egypt’s 60-year modern history, no one imagined he would have allowed Brotherhood to hijack his presidency.  “These pope are waiting for me to do something,” said el-Sissi, referring to the millions of street protesters that sought an end to Muslim Brotherhood rule.  Had Morsi not served as a Brotherhood puppet, amassed a coalition government and represented the vast majority of Egyptians, the revolution would have never taken place.

             Led by Secretary of State John Kerry, the U.S. State Department didn’t know how to respond to charges that the military engaged in a full-fledged coup.  U.S. foreign policy authorizes Congress to de-fund regimes whose legitimate government fell to a coup.  Kerry recently acknowledged that the State Department did not recognize the July 3 regime change as a coup because it was supported by a majority of Egyptians.  Morsi’s government was “based on restoring the Islamic empire,” said el-Sissi, insisting the regime change was a popular uprising, not a military coup.  While there’s a fine line, el-Sissi wanted to preserve the military’s $1.3 billion in U.S. aid.  Egypt’s military ruler told Brotherhood followers to disperse from illegal gatherings attempting to disrupt normal Egyptian business.  “You have a safe exit, you will be politically integrated,” said Gen. Hany Abdel Latif.

             Calling Brotherhood protesters “brainwashed” and used as “a political bargaining chip,” Latif understands radical Islam’s mind-control techniques.  Everything out of former Brotherhood member and now al-Qaeda’s No. 1 63-year-old Ayman al-Zawahri mouth involves Muslim persecution.  He learned well from Bin Laden how to hide behind Islam and manipulate the downtrodden into enlisting as martyrs for a worldwide criminal enterprise.  Brotherhood protesters have been told the military takeover attempts to hand power back to Mubark’s old authoritarian regime.  Kerry echoed the official U.S. view Aug. 1 that the military was attempting to restore democracy to Egypt.  Brotherhood officials see democracy as winning elections not respecting the will of the people.  Al-Qaeda’s al-Zawahri has been spewing more propaganda about how the U.S. was responsible for the July 3 coup.

             Egypt’s military showed they understand how to deal with Brotherhood that likes to push its weight around.  Only respecting superior force, the Brotherhood hood shows signs of backing down from its attempt to disrupt Egyptian life.  Asked if the military’s in touch with the Brotherhood, Latif sounded ambiguous. “I wouldn’t use the word negotiation.  There have been contacts between different figures.  There is no desire to use force if there is any other avenue that has any potential for success,” said Latif, hoping the Brotherhood would eventually acquiesce.  Kerry’s recent remarks indicate the U.S. has given the military its blessings to stop the Brotherhood from disrupting an orderly transition back to popular rule.  Whether or not it’s through elections or parliamentary representation, the State Department wants to see popular secular rule return to Egypt.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.