"Nobel peace prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei's decision to quit the race for the presidency was seen in Egypt as a slap in the face for military rulers and one depriving liberals of a key force.
The ex-UN nuclear watchdog chief made the surprise announcement on Saturday, days before Egypt is set to celebrate the first anniversary of the January 25 revolution that ousted president Hosni Mubarak.
"My conscience does not allow me to run for the presidency or any other official position unless there is real democracy," ElBaradei said in a statement.
He charged that old regime figures still ruled the country, accused them of repressive tactics and criticised what he said were "botched" moves to draw up a constitution after the election later this year of a new president." AFP
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Well, well. The man seated above contemplating the universe is Amre Mousa. He is a former foreign minister and head of the Arab League. He is altogether a Mubarak era politician, but with his usual skill has managed to position himself as the possible president most acceptable to both the MB party and SCAF. Bravo! He will be a figurehead compromise figure whose presence will screen the continuing struggle for supremacy between the Islamists and the generals.
Baradei was never going to be president, not in this world, maybe in the other world of ideas, the world in which scholars write papers about what might have been.
In the long run either the generals or the Islamistswill run Egypt. A long term accomodation between or among these groups will not hold. I would bet on the generals. pl
Reports I'm reading suggest that the MB has given up the fight already. They don't even want to take power until June! That's when Amr Mousa will become President. He is widely expected to serve the interests of the military, a true replacement for Mubarak.
Other MB parliaments--in Tunisia and Morocco--are also showing themselves to be toothless. Surprising stuff, only a year after being demonized as the bogeyman by Israel and the West.
But not so surprising after you consider what happened to the MB over the past decade. In Algeria and Tunisia they were ruthlessly hunted down.
The dogs have been beaten to the point that they know their place.
Posted by: JohnH | 15 January 2012 at 11:01 AM
JohnH,
The MB may just realize the wisdom of patience. Immediately taking on the Egyptian military head on is probably not the wisest course of action for them. Look what happened when Hamas won the last Palestinian election. They ran into a fire pocket.
Posted by: The Twisted Genius | 15 January 2012 at 12:05 PM
Hence, the Turkish example. Erdogan is the model for Islamists.
Posted by: Matthew | 15 January 2012 at 06:34 PM