Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi seems to have declared war on Monday - against the Egyptian military and the Egyptian Supreme Court, both of which were the only protection standing between the Egyptian people and the uncontrolled excesses of yet another dictatorial regime in the country.
When Morsi ousted Army Marshall Hussein Tantawi and annulled the recent directives Tantawi promulgated giving the military far-reaching powers to control the civilian presidency without waiting for a Court decision, he, in effect, announced that he alone is the power in Egypt.
The White House piously commented that it hopes the actions taken by Morsi will “serve the interests” of the Egyptian people.
The Pentagon indicated that it will pursue its close relationship with the Egyptian military. This undoubtedly means that the 1.3 Billion US Dollars being supplied to the military will continue.
Egyptian media have noted with surprise the “revolutionary” actions of the new president and some expressed concern that it means that the Muslim Brotherhood is now in control of Egypt and its government.
“The Mulsim Brotherhood Officially in Power” blared the headline of the independent Al-Watan newspaper.
The Al-Ousboua newspaper, often seen as being close to the military, decried “the dictatorship of the Brotherhood.”
The independent Al-Chorouq newspaper said that Morsi has “put n end to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces led by Tantawi, with whom he has had a difficult cohabitation.” Al-Chorouq stated that Morsi’s actions in taking back all power over the parliament means that he now has more power “than Hosni Mubarak.”
This is in reference to the fact that Morsi has taken back the power to appoint the Committee which will draft the new Egyptian constitution.
The Egyptian stock market responded positively, rising 1.5% on Monday, probably in the realization that things are now more stable in the country, if less democratic.
Israel, to be sure, is very concerned.
An unnamed Israeli government source said that “it is premature to make evaluations, because everything is in flux in Egypt, but we are following closely and with disquiet what is happening.”
In addition to firing Tantawi, Morsi also fired his number two in the military, and the heads of the navy, air force and air defense. These posts will be given to high level civil servants. The navy head will be given charge of the Suez Canal, one of the largest income-generating organizations in Egypt.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, chief of military information, will replace Tantawi.
The official Egyptian news agency, Mena, says all these actions were taken in consultation with the armed forces.
President Morsi said that he is simply trying to give military affairs over to a younger generation. Tantawi is 76.
A judge who has been lenient in decisions concerning those opposing the Mubarak regime was named as an Egyptian vice president.
As was to be expected, a private TV outlet owner has been cited, as well as the editor-in-chief of an independent newspaper, for making statements “offensive to President Morsi.”
Need we say more, dear readers?
This could be worse, I just can't imagine how. Is this the start of the slide down the slippery slope that Obama has so gleefully brought to the in the Middle East? Has this been the game plan all along?
ReplyDeleteHow do we now reverse this traumatic situation? Egypt is gone. The rest on the region is still in play - somewhat.
In my dreams I didn't think that such destruction of our good will to help could be so easily swatted away in such a short time.
We need to all say a prayer for Israel. They seem to be alone.
Nothing more needs said.
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