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Egypt's New President Moves Against Democracy

(Wall Street Journal) Eric Trager - Egypt's "full transition to civilian rule" has finally come to fruition. But it is neither liberal nor democratic. On Sunday, having purged top military officials, Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi issued a sweeping constitutional declaration that grants him complete executive and legislative power, plus the authority to select the writers of Egypt's new constitution. Eighteen months after Mubarak's ouster, Egypt has a new dictator. Many Washington analysts believe that Morsi won't make any major foreign-policy moves, such as revoking Egypt's peace treaty with Israel, since he needs international investment to boost Egypt's ailing economy. But this same logic once dictated that he wouldn't rush to challenge Egypt's generals. Rather than touting him as a democratically elected leader, Washington should denounce his power grab and insist that he demonstrate his commitment to democratic rule with action or risk losing the international goodwill that followed his election. The writer is a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2012-08-16 00:00:00
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