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What's at Stake with Egypt's Vote?
(USA Today) - Dennis Ross - With the recent presidential elections producing a runoff this weekend between an uninspiring Muslim Brotherhood candidate and an official who appears to be a remnant of the Mubarak regime, the mood of optimism has soured in Egypt. If Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi is elected, the Brotherhood will control both the presidency and the parliament. The group has an anti-Western, anti-Israeli, pan-Islamic ideology. Yet the longing for law and order could produce a surprise victory for Ahmed Shafiq, who was appointed prime minister by Mubarak in his waning days. For the U.S. to provide material and financial support to the new government, Egypt must respect the rights of minorities and women. It must permit basic rights of free speech and assembly and ongoing political competition to ensure repeatable elections. And it must fulfill its international and treaty obligations, including its peace treaty with Israel. (USA Today)