Monday, January 31, 2011

"Post-Mubarak transition" as seen in Washington ...


".... “Omar Suleiman and Tantawi think that the critical thing for the future of Egypt is that there be no confrontation between the military and the people,” said Cohen, president of the Institute for Middle East Peace and Development and a former consultant to the National Intelligence Council. “Their thinking is, if there is a split between the popular will and the military, the whole state of Egypt no longer has its basis of legitimacy.” 
 
That judgment is significant, Cohen said: “By saying that there cannot be a confrontation between the military and the demonstrators, they are basically telling Mubarak the game is over for him." The assessment came as the Egyptian army issued a formal statement Monday saying that it would not use force against the Egyptian people .....  Tantawi and Suleiman “have different ideas about how the transition can take place,” Cohen said...."

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