NYT: Stability of Egypt Hinges on a Divided Military

[chimpymustgo]

By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: February 5, 2011

WASHINGTON —

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As a 12-day-old revolution rocks the foundations of Egypt, the Obama administration is now embracing a transition process backed by Field Marshal Tantawi and other top military leaders that would ease their longtime benefactor, President Hosni Mubarak, from power. But whoever becomes the new president after elections in September, American officials say that the rich and secretive Egyptian military holds the key to the governing of Egypt, the country’s future and by extension to the stability of the Arab world.

Administration officials nonetheless concede there is much they do not know about an institution that is hardly a monolith and that operates as a parallel economy, a kind of “Military Inc.,” involved in the production of electronics, household appliances, clothing and food.

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Although the Egyptian military has been widely described in news media reports this past week as commanding the respect of the population, the cable says that among the elite its influence has ebbed.

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“Behind the scenes, the military is making possible the various forms of assault on the protesters,” Mr. Springborg said. “It’s trying to secure a transition for itself. There’s lots of evidence that the military is complicit, but for the most part Egyptians don’t even want to admit that to themselves.”

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Much, much more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/world/middleeast/06military.html?hp

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More uncertainty and intrigue.