Things are quieter in Cairo today. The camel jockeys have dismounted to sit down for a little talk. The newly installed Vice-President, Omar Suleiman [Before his appointment, was he a tent-maker? Just asking. Ed.] is meeting with representatives of opposition groups to discuss a roadmap for "reforms to put the country on a path toward greater democracy".
Walt told you a few days ago that the Muslim Brotherhood -- officially banned in Egypt and identified as a terrorist organization -- would try to position itself as leaders of the "popular revolution". Their aim, in a word, is to change Egypt from a secular state to an Islamic state ... like Iran.
Sure enough, the Brotherhood, now recognized as Egypt's largest opposition group, was at the meeting, along with a number of smaller "leftist, liberal" groups, according to Egyptian state television.
Earlier, the Brotherhood said in a statement that its representatives would meet with Vice-President Omar Suleiman to press its "legitimate and just demands." Presumably their demands would include the imposition of Sharia law. See previous posts.
Mr. Suleiman, however, has accused the Brotherhood, businessmen and unidentified "foreigners" as being behind the wave of looting and arson that swept much of the country last weekend after security forces inexplicably deserted the streets.
There is talk now of a coalition between the Mubarak government and the Muslim Brotherhood. If you want to know how that would work, imagine a coalition between the Pope and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
It's an old political ploy. First you organize demonstrations to show that the people support you and not the government. Then you offer to work with the government to "find a consensus" and "bring prosperity and peace" to your country. Finally, once you've got your bum on the edge of the throne, you keep pushing and pushing until the other guy falls off.
That's what's happening in Egypt now. What is the West going to do about it? Errr, probably not much.
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