President Morsy (or Mursy) and The Muslim Brotherhood along with their allies the Salfist Nour Party are busy shooting themselves in the foot. Oh, they may well gain a temporary victory, but in the end it will be a Phyrric victory, costing them far more than they will gain.  The situation in Egypt is now in a critical stage. It looks bad for the forces of democracy. It seems every special interest group is quite willing to sell out Egypt to maintain their wealth and/or to stay out of jail. I am sure the backroom deals made with The Brotherhood would make any Huey Long jealous. The next few days or weeks will tell the story. Things change every day. This is a bipolar revolution.

Make no mistake about one thingsThis revolution is not about religion. That is the cover. The current political fight is between the old and the young and the rural and urban. Strange as it may appear The Brotherhood is conservative, rural, and old. They never have fit the revolution which is of the young, the educated, the urbane. This is the same divide that has existed in Egypt since the revolution of 1919, the turbaned against the tarboosh, the conservative farmer against the effendi modernists. In the beginning, The Brotherhood was supported by King Faud because he wanted this traditionalist support (and had a not so secret desire to be named Caliph after the fall of the Ottoman sultan).

If The Brotherhood wins, they will lose. Look at Tunisia. Today the people are letting that Islamist government know in no uncertain terms that their revolution was not about Islam or who is more Muslim than the other. As was the case in Egypt, the revolution in Tunisia was about social justice, the rule of law, economic opportunity, human freedom and dignity, and democracy. Morsey, tied to the Supreme Leader of The Brotherhood, will not be able to deliver the demands of the revolutionaries. No amount of propaganda puts food in people's stomachs or makes them feel they have a real job when they do not.  The youth of Egypt marched into Tahrir Square expecting to die. Their current weakness stems in no small part from the fact they were very surprised they did not, and Mubarak left. The young went to die because they felt they were already dead. No amount of Koran thumping will make them feel alive again (most disagree with The Brotherhood and Salafi interpretations of Islam in the first place). The Brotherhood must provide, not just talk. This they seem incapable of doing. Egypt faces many systemic problems, including corruption, that must be solved. The Brotherhood is incapable of doing this. Government needs to be made efficient, jobs cut, and merit made the sole reason for promotion (not political pull, bribes, or family connections). The Brotherhood, old men playing old games, sees no real problem with things the way they are now. Their religious radicalism will lead to their downfall, and, I am afraid, it will be a very bloody fall.

Last night there was a big demonstration at Cairo University. A strange sight was seen. Many of the particiapnts waved not Egyptian but Saudi flags. This was noted as was the fact that several members of the Consitutional Assembly when presenting President Morsy a copy of the new constitution did not attend the singing of the Egyptian national anthem. Egyptians are very wary of "foreign  fingers" messing in their affairs. This is one reason President Obama is doing well to stay out of this fight. Memories of the Colonial Period are still very strong here.

Had The Brotherhood been smart, it would have aligned itself with the liberal, secular politicians. The new constitution should have been the most liberal seen in the world. Had Morsy kept his word and served as the president of ALL Egyptians, The Brotherhood would have had long term success. The people were ready to work for a better Egypt. Now they do not believe him. Even those that say they do, say so out of self interest rather than a love of their country. You can buy support and votes, but once that money is spent, more is demanded.

The people of Egypt have learned a new word, "No". Add to that another, "Why." These two words will mean that if The Brotherhood wins temporarily, it will suffer its greatest defeat.