Egypt’s Islamists Challenge Military
This is a disturbing story:
Egypt’s largest political group, the Muslim Brotherhood, warned the country’s military rulers Saturday not to interfere in the writing of a new constitution.
The statement from the Brotherhood marks the first time the Islamist group has directly challenged Egypt’s ruling military council since the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak in February. The group’s stand was prompted by comments from a senior government official this week that the military council will soon set out certain principles outlining who is eligible to draft a new constitution. The Brotherhood fears the military is trying to enshrine a political role for itself in the constitution. Parliamentary elections are slated for later this year, and the Brotherhood and its fellow Islamists are expected to do well at the polls.
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Comments:
Jul '10
Re: Egypt’s Islamists Challenge Military
Boy, does this sound familiar...
Aug '10
Re: Egypt’s Islamists Challenge Military
So it was an Islamist Spring after all. Who would have believed it? Well, actually, me for one.
Oct '10
Re: Egypt’s Islamists Challenge Military
"The Military is the protector of the Egyptian People." That should be in the new constitution.
Oct '10
Re: Egypt’s Islamists Challenge Military
This is just another in a long line of stories that, on the surface, makes Islamists out to be victims. Doesn't it sound odd to say certain citizens can't have any input into a new constitution?
If there's a functioning system of government with relatively impartial courts, an honestly elected legislature and chief executive, why would the military pre-emptively bar INPUT into the constitution? The only answer I can think of is an assumption that some significant portion of the elected representatives, and the electorate, want something in the constitution that the military thinks would be bad, or destructive?
It's a pre-emptive military coup.
Jul '10
Re: Egypt’s Islamists Challenge Military
Obama will be remembered and reviled for his support of the Muslim Brotherhood long after history has forgotten Reid, Pelosi, and Obamacare.
Feb '11
Re: Egypt’s Islamists Challenge Military
Well, as there's no other evidence of a rift between the MB and the army at the moment, I'm gonna tentatively attribute this to their PR agency. Other parties are accusing the MB of not supporting tahrir (which they didn't) and of cutting a deal early with the army (which they did), and of now turning on their opponents (which they are). Perhaps this is public posturing to shore up their bona fides as an opponent of The Man.
It's odd, though. Especially as the army is just now beginning what'll be a very long campaign to retake Sinai from the tribes and the half-dozen Muslim terror NGOs with whom the tribes are working. Given that HAMAS is among them, it's hard to imagine the army not working closely with the MB.
On the other hand, MB leadership is drooling-at-the-mouth insane. And, well, insane people don't always do sane things. So really, I got no clue.
Feb '11
Re: Egypt’s Islamists Challenge Military
A past counterfactual condition? When was the last time Egypt had a functioning government, rule of law, and a real legislature and executive -- well, that was....
Third dynasty? Nope. Second? Nope. First? Sorry, nope. Turtles and military dictatorships all the way down.
Ah, but what about when Joseph was in charge? Nope. He was an imperialist stooge, working for the Zionists.
If this were a real shot at self-governance, Egyptians might should have started with something smaller, like the PTA.
I'd wager you're spot on about the pre-emptive coup. MB and army probably planned it in Dec. 2010, maybe after Pharaoh got a cancer diagnosis. Tahrir was just a docudrama for the lumpen intelligentsia, Egyptian and foreign.