Not Quite a Coup, But Pretty Much

Foreign Policy ^ | Monday, July 1, 2013 | H.A. Hellyer

[nickcarraway]

As I sat down for my interview with the journalist to discuss the protests of June 30, I told him, "You realize by the time we're done, half of this is probably going to be irrelevant and outdated, right?" It turns out I was right -- because within those few minutes, the Egyptian Defense Minister, General el-Sissi issued an ultimatum. The official text was quite clear: it was a message for all parties in Egypt to address their differences, and respond to the "will of the people" within 48 hours. Within a few minutes, I received a message from a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood -- and it was a fairly short one. "We have a coup." Not quite -- but he may yet turn out to be right.

Jokingly, some are referring to Egypt as the only country where a coup is announced in advance. The real joke, however, rests with anyone thought that the armed forces had ever been neutralized by the Muslim Brotherhood last August. Within Western capitals, and among a great portion of Egypt's intelligentsia, it was thought that the newly elected President Mohamed Morsi had managed to push Field Marshal Tantawi out of the driver's seat, and appointed a "loyal" General Sissi as defense minister. Suspicion of Sissi's affiliations ran so deep that many thought that he was a "secret Muslim Brother," interpreting reports of his religious conservatism as a sign of his Islamism. Many within Morsi's own camp were deeply impressed with the president's ability to "sweep aside" the military.

[Izzy Dunne]

So, is Bammy going to bat for his bro’ ?

[infowarrior]

So, is Bammy going to bat for his bro’ ?

If the Libyan intelligence document is 'the real deal' Bammy will categorically not be able to go to bat for Morsi without implicating himself in the Benghazi scandal, which has not truly gone away...

Things are getting 'real interesting' (in the Chinese curse sense) lately...

the infowarrior

[warsaw44]

I have to sign up to read the article??

[swamprebel]

0bama may try to threaten the Egyptian Military with the loss of financial support. Anyone know how many Billion$ that is annually?

[swamprebel]

Interesting comment at the end of the article sums it up nicely.

TutAnkhAmon:

22 Million signed the petition for an early election, 17 Million have taken to the street. 10 Ministers & 2 Governor have resigned while other Muslim Brothers Governors haven't been able to enter their offices. Commentator can debate "coup or not and what type pf coup" till the next century, right now the reality on the ground: Morsi is Finished.

[nickcarraway]

Try googling it and you probably won’t have to do the free sign up.

[txrefugee]

Where is that video of Hillary trilling like a bird about the “Arab Spring”? That was as big a failure as her disastrous “Reset Button” with Russia. Honestly, if the pathetic Republicans had an ounce of brains or courage, that could barbecue this old hag in ‘16 by playing the Top 10 Videos of Hillary.

Of course, the hilarious video of her in a pink suit, looking like Betty Crocker, sitting under a portrait of Lincoln while lying her a** off about Billy jeff’s Monica fiasco would have to be included.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks nickcarraway.

...the Egyptian Defense Minister, General el-Sissi issued an ultimatum. The official text was quite clear: it was a message for all parties in Egypt to address their differences, and respond to the "will of the people" within 48 hours... The real joke, however, rests with anyone thought that the armed forces had ever been neutralized by the Muslim Brotherhood last August.

Let's see how it goes -- if they act like assholes and (as in Venezuela, when Chavez was removed years ago) Morsi isn't executed at once, along with all his muzzie bro-hoodies, it will result in no change.