President Morsi says that Egypt wishes to create a civilian nuclear
energy program. Leaders of Morsi’s party, the Muslim Brotherhood, have called for Egypt to pursue a nuclear weapons program.
Developments in post-Mubarak Egypt are beginning to mirror the process of Islamization that took place in Iran following the 1979 revolution. The Muslim Brotherhood is gaining support, while progressive forces – those that hoped to bring democracy to Egypt – have fallen silent.
Three forces are competing for control of Egypt: the army, the Muslim Brotherhood, and various civilian opposition groups. The military and civilian opposition must understand that the Brotherhood is their common and most dangerous enemy.
It seems likely that in the near term Egypt will be a society plagued by political intrigue and instability. The governments of the world must be vigilant for developments that could threaten the Suez Canal, the peace with Israel, and regional stability.
Supporting Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman in the current crisis will prevent a Muslim Brotherhood takeover of Egypt and avoid a bloody and protracted Egyptian civil war marked by foreign intervention.