Egypt Back to Square One

Muhammad Morsi, who had the proud distinction of being Egypt’s first democratically elected President, has again made his historical mark, by being the first such head of state to be undemocratically removed.

A military coup, albeit a seemingly popular military coup, is a rebuff to democracy, not a support for it.

Now, and perhaps for some time to come, the generals are in control, the same ones who ran the military under Mubarek, and who distinguished themselves, not in battle against Egypt’s external enemies, but against its women, who’ve been raped, against its students, who’ve been tortured, and against ant-Mubarek activists, who’ve been beaten and slain.

With history such as this, the military chafed under Morsi’s constitutional control, for, as a Muslim Brotherhood leader for decades before his political elevation, the military was used to putting their boots on the necks of such men.

With his rigid style of leadership, he alienated those who should’ve been his allies, and strengthened his opponents, who could barely wait until his first major misstep.

When protests grew against him, the military took the initiative, closed TV stations and newspapers, ousted Morsi from office, installed their hand-picked puppet as interim president, and “suspended” the constitution.

Generals are under civilian control, or they control civilians; there can be no middle ground.

As Egypt goes, so goes the Middle East.

Several years ago, people spoke with hope of Arab Spring.

This, the hard boots of military rule, may be the beginning of an Arab Fall.