Egypt's American-Made Military: More Mistakes Than Morsi
Somewhere in a prison cell in Egypt former President Mubarak is laughing. Just two and a half years after millions took to the streets and forced him to step down after just 18 days, millions more flooded the streets again to topple President Morsi, the very man they elected to lead them after toppling Mubarak.
Of course what is happening in Egypt is no laughing matter. Since Sunday, at least 39 people were killed, hundreds more injured and more than 160 cases of sexual assaults were reported, including 9 gang rapes. So as inspiring as it is to see people power more alive than its ever been in the country, its all the more discouraging to be reminded Egypt's military is as mighty as ever and the country remains a mess.
In 1992, (the year both the Internet and I arrived to Egypt) Mubarak appointed Adly Mansour to be Vice President of the Constitutional court. Just a few days ago, Morsi appointed the same man to be Chairman of the Supreme Constitutional Court. Less than a year after being chosen by President Morsi to replace General Tantawi (Mubarak's longtime pal) as the head of Egypt's military, General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi overthrew Morsi and his constitution, and named Mansour -- the only man in Egyptian politics to be appointed and endorsed by Mubarak, Morsi and the Military -- Egypt's interim President.
I understand why so many (namely President Obama) are careful not to call this a coup. Doing so would force America to observe the 2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which bars the US from spending money for any "assistance to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree, or a coup d'etat that is supported by the military." Still, America's annual $1.3 billion in military aid was quietly funneled to Egypt in May, as it has been every year since 1979.
But whatever we call it, we must acknowledge the basic facts: A president elected in unprecedented free and fair elections was overthrown by an ever-powerful military that took its cues from an unprecedented mobilization of millions of Egyptians challenging his rule.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ahmed-shihabeldin/egypts-americanmade-milit_b_3549340.html