Who's running Egypt? General Al-Sisi: The man who publicly defended virginity tests [View all]

[cali]

on female protesters in Tahrir Square in 2012.

This guy is big trouble. And not a guy who's going to simply let go of power. He named himself first deputy prime minister. He handpicked Mansour for interim President and he clearly intends run for President himself. Yes, he's hugely popular and seen as the second coming of Nasser by many, but he's a strongman and lest we forget, Morsi was elected president before being ousted. Al-Sisi has already brought back Egypt's secret police. And his objection to the Muslim Brotherhood? It has zip to do with any objection to Islamic governance. It's purely political.


He's reminding me of a composite of other strongmen from Pinochet to Qaddafi.

General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's stern features look down from behind aviator sunglasses in photos on Egypt's front pages and from street posters, and there's already talk of a presidential run.

In the weeks since the army he heads evicted president Mohamed Morsi from office after nationwide protests against the elected Islamist head of state, Sisi has become something of a national icon.

"He is the one we can trust," declares one poster above his official portrait.

Another shows the general standing and saluting in front of the pyramids, with a lion by his side and an eagle superimposed above. And a cartoon in Akhbar Al-Youm weekly depicts the general, in full military regalia, as a composite of different Egyptian citizens.



http://www.france24.com/en/20130801-egypt-chorus-approval-army-chief-sisi

http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21582564-generals-who-deposed-muslim-brotherhood-


http://www.theworld.org/2013/08/egypts-general-al-sisi-an-officer-and-a-closet-islamist/