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Morsi's power grab threatens stability in volatile region

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    Aaron David Miller weighs in

  • Duration 5:24
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Listen to concerns over the -- -- Egyptian president Mohamed -- is latest decree on the stability in the region.

Have you been reporting this morning hundreds of protesters clashing with the Egyptian police for a third straight day.

And more massive demonstrations both for and against -- are planned for the coming week.

-- more seize power grab plunging Japan to a new round of uncertainty and shake up the already fragile Middle East or could be back down.

Aaron David Miller is -- former advisor to six secretaries of state and the vice president of the Woodrow Wilson Center mr.

Miller thank you for joining us on this anymore.

Pleasure to be here were you surprised -- Morrissey who what what he did and how it is now unfolding an agent.

But you know the good news is you've got a civilian democratically elected president the bad news is the Arab states are much more adept at acquiring power sharing and the reality is that.

Mohamed Morsi comes from a party that's exclusive -- has a vision for Egypt that is the Muslim Brotherhood.

And it's a kind of a my way or the highway scenario so the question is if there was an opportunity to consolidate power to ensure that the constituent assembly.

Is filled with his supporters.

Traditional Muslims looking to make -- into a more conservative traditional state he's going to take.

There is opposition.

I just wonder whether the secularist and the liberals.

Have the kind of street -- and firepower.

In the in the proverbial streets.

To really provide an effective counter challenge overtime because -- islamists and the mother Muslim Brotherhood would have an upper hand and that they would win in any type of confrontation.

Well I think that that's certainly the way it's played out over the last a year or so but remember you got the military -- -- very uneasily in the wings.

Its credibility is on the line because.

At the end of the day it is the military that is still the most powerful force in the country.

And charged with securing and consolidate and -- stability.

Erica I think we have to realize is a very long movie you know since 1950 only 22 countries in the world.

Have maintained their democratic character continuously so getting into this democratic club.

Is something that's easily promised but not that easily.

-- in Egypt is a long way from that yeah well what do you think we should did administration should do I mean -- did not support term of art and we would just replaced one dictator basically with another.

It's an interesting thought you know -- caught in the anomalous position.

Within the last week Mohamed Morsi became love Barack Obama's new best friend president talked -- six times.

-- -- did extraordinary work in securing.

This cease fire which probably will last in Gaza.

Between Israel Hamas so I think the real risk here is that we the United States.

Will in some respects to the same thing we did with -- -- we will allow centralization of control abusive human rights in Egypt.

If in fact the egyptians play ball on interest that we have.

Including the peace process that's the deal we made with Mubarak and I think we're in danger frankly.

Of acquiescing to that deal with more -- -- and what happens -- react react.

And you just mentioned that President Obama New York Times saying that they present told -- quote he was impressed with the Egypt leaders pragmatic competence.

He -- an engineered precision with.

Surprisingly little ideology and the president called Morrissey a straight shooter is that a correct assessment or do you think -- -- Well I think we can't confuse more -- long term objectives which is the consolidation of -- control of control and essentially making the.

-- the Muslim Brotherhood the key political.

Force in the country with his tactics.

And on the way to do that remember that that the Brothers and once a brother always a brother even though Morrissey has technically -- -- from the party or to become president.

The reality is -- in in this for the long game they'll be here long after Barack Obama leaves the White House.

So we have to be careful here we have to uphold our values.

As well as our national interest and that's gonna for I think present a challenge.

That was tough for the last administration to walk George W.

Bush.

And it's going to be tough for this one to walk as well.

You know and there and finally eight when they say Egypt goes islamists I mean just like that domino effect in the hole.

Region is going to go completely islamists and fallen -- with Iran and Egypt and -- Israel.

Big trouble for her -- what what's your prediction.

Well around -- different story I mean I don't think you're in danger of creating a little Tehran on the Nile but the reality is this this is not an Arab Spring let's be clear.

It's an islamists for.

When fair and free elections are held in this part of the world it is the most ideological the most well organized the most committed parties that actually do the best.

That that happened in Palestine and happened in Lebanon and happened in Iraq and it's happening in Egypt we just have to figure out a way to keep -- -- Using what pressure and incentives and disincentives we have.

Pushing toward a transparent plural list.

Form of government but I have to tell -- -- it's it's really going to be tough -- and we're gonna have to troubling week sadly.

With -- these demonstrations this next week Aaron David Miller Woodrow Wilson Center thank you so much for joining us this -- thanks --

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