How does Egypt's military control the government's future?

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Podcasts Take Two

Jul 5, 2013

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How does Egypt's military control the government's future?

Egypt's military has historically exerted considerable force on the country's political process. But could recent events upend that tradition?

Military special forces surround supporters of President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo on Wednesday. A few hours later, the military ousted Morsi and suspended the constitution.

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Egypt's military has historically exerted considerable force on the country's political process. But could recent events upend that tradition?

Amid the tumultuous backdrop in Egypt is the reality that, for several months, public support for President Mohamed Morsi had been waning. Meanwhile, the popularity of the country's military has been on the rise.

But by exerting its force over the country's fragile political system, these actions put into question whether any Egyptian government could be truly independent from the military's power.

Joining Take Two is Michael Wahid Hanna, an Egyptian-born researcher and senior fellow at the Century Foundation.