Egypt Doesn't Need Another Military Dictatorship

ver since Mubarak was sent packing in February 2011, there has been a widespread trust deficit between the people and the military council. In the meantime, liberals, leftists, Islamists and remnants of the Mubarak order have all been trying to shape the trajectory Egypt takes, with the generals keeping a close eye on the whole process. Presidential elections are scheduled for May 23, with run-offs slated for mid-June. Mubarak’s former foreign minister and two Islamist candidates are said to be the top contenders, while the Muslim Brotherhood dominates parliament. Though the military council has promised fair polls, accusations persist that the generals are trying to manipulate the elections. Many in Egypt feel the military rulers will use the violence as an excuse to stay in power; some opposition figures have even accused the generals of engineering the clashes.