Why the Military Cannot Lead a Transition to Democracy in Egypt

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Perhaps it is patriotism, perhaps it is the remarkable professionalism with which the Egyptian Army has conducted itself, or perhaps it is the simple fact that nearly all Egyptian men serve in the military during their lives, but for whatever reason protesters have given the M1A1 Abrams tanks that appeared on Egypt's streets roughly a week ago a hero's welcome. In Tahrir Square last Sunday, I watched as anti-Mubarak protesters exchanged high fives with soldiers, climbed onto tanks to pose for photographs, and chanted, "The people and the army are one hand together."

Among those disposed to see Cairo as a potential Tienanmen situation, the military's restraint elicited a similar brand of reverence. President Obama, for his part, commended the Egyptian military "for the professionalism and patriotism that it has shown thus far..." Indeed, reviews of the Egyptian military have been so positive that one could easily forget that civilian control of the military is one of the most basic requirements for democracy. This apparently slipped the mind of one Obama Administration official who told the Los Angeles Times, "our sense is that the military, on balance, is still serving as a buffer between both sides, and they likely still hold the key to a peaceful transition."

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