Egypt never had a true civilian government. From the first President Muhammad Naguib, to Gemal Nasser, to Anwar Sadat, to Hosni Mubarak, all were career military officers. The present Vice President Omar Suleiman is a former army general and head of the military intelligence services. Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi has strong military background. The decision making power in Egypt rests with its armed forces. The military calls the shots over the civilians on all the important concerns, especially foreign affairs, and defense matters.
The U.S., with its $2 billion annual aid for the last three decades, has a direct leverage and special link with the Egyptian military establishment; the bond between the two militaries is mutual. It is unlikely that the Egyptian military will allow a civilian government that in any significant way directly impacts the American and Israeli interests in the region. If it does so, then it is essentially agreeing to the erosion of its authority and ultimate collapse of oligarchy. Would the Egyptian military agree to give up its elite status, it is doubtful.
The Egyptian revolution will not achieve its ends, it will not be a complete and successful revolution until the military power to dictate and rule over civilian government is defanged. "Don't let anyone steal this revolution from you -- those hypocrites who will put on a new face that suits them," Imam Yusuf al-Qaradawi warned the protestors at the Tahrir Square, "The revolution isn't over. It has just started to build Egypt - guard your revolution."
With the power in the hands of The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to define and shape the new Egypt, the young Egyptian revolutionaries have their work cut out. The Egyptian revolution is not over yet, it just begun.
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