Egypt’s Liberals: “We Were Duped”

[Valin]

Via Meadia:

 

Walter Russell Mead

6/15/12

 

Yesterday Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court handed down rulings that , in what has been called a coup by military leaders apparently dissatisfied with “transitional authority” status. Egypt is now the newest example of an old trend in Middle Eastern politics in which Islamist gains inspire pushback from secular authoritarian elements in the government.

 

Now the NYT reports that even the country’s most idealistic elements are realizing how formidable the opposition is:

 

(Snip)

 

Those smiles and promises will likely continue, but at this point, liberals, the business establishment, and the Copts now understand how politically weak they really are. Given a choice between Islamist rule and the old Egypt minus Mubarak, they will likely opt for the army and the old system.

 

(Snip)