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Source: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/137770/eric-trager/the-muslim-brotherhoods-long-game
The Muslim Brotherhood's Long Game
(Foreign Affairs) Eric Trager - In the 18 months since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood has risen swiftly from the cave to the castle after 84 years of using its nationwide social services networks to build an Islamic state in Egypt from the ground up. The Brotherhood now hopes to create a period of calm in the short run so that it can act more assertively in the future. Part of the Brotherhood's strategy for temporary calm involves its coordination with the military. Brotherhood leaders met frequently with SCAF generals. The Brotherhood's arrangement with SCAF is consistent with the organization's long-held strategy of avoiding confrontation with more powerful authorities. But the current calm will not last. The Brotherhood will use this period to build its legitimacy as Egypt's next ruling party, and resume its push for more authority once the temperature cools down.