Protests rage in Egypt over Morsi power grab

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Well the political turmoil gripping Egypt is now only getting worse with protests raging for a six day across the country in response to what critics are calling.

A power grab by president -- this is -- word today that the Muslim Brotherhood will hold rallies across the country in support of more CNN Saturday.

So why did president -- take this action is -- -- power grabbing -- his power in office outlast the protest.

There were seeing on the streets joining us now on the right distinguished scholar at the Wilson Center and the US Institute of Peace she has spent her professional career covering the Middle East.

As has our very and Judith Miller who is the Cairo bureau chief for the New York Times.

Also -- Fox News contributor what a pleasure to have both of you with us today two great experts on this.

-- -- What are what are we seeing play out in Egypt too why did more c.'s actions last week cause this type of reaction in the streets.

Well it comes in context of the deep -- -- polarization between Islamist parties and secular forces.

Between the forces of the past and the forces who are in power at the moment.

But also comes in context of this great struggled to define the new constitution.

The judiciary which is control to a certain degree by holdovers from the Mubarak era.

Dissolve parliament and appeared to be on the verge of dissolving the constituent assembly which is right in the constitution and that -- -- going back to square one.

Now let me and that is if I could -- -- -- -- and -- we get the full you know understanding of this.

Seven say that the judiciary does judges would dissolve the committee that -- -- stacked with other islamists.

And and that's what they were trying to check that power that quote -- power grab that critics are talking about is that what was happening.

Well the constituent assembly came from the parliament that had been dissolved.

And this is it's a very complicated story but it basically meant that he did what it had to go back.

To square one in terms of the defining a new order and -- time that you -- doesn't have a this is a country that faces extraordinary unemployment problems.

Basic things like.

Education and health care and even picking up garbage off the street.

But this was a colossal mistake this calculation by president Morrissey.

Not understanding how deep suspicions run and about what the Muslim Brotherhood would do.

And it it comes ironically and tragically just a week after you help mediate a cease fire in the Gaza conflict.

Judith are those suspicions of Morrissey.

-- well I think of course they're valid it -- if you have to judge the man's so far about what he's done I don't think it's just a coincidence Robin that.

-- president -- -- made this power grab after Hillary Clinton showered him with compliments about how helpful he had been and what an indispensable role.

He had played.

In getting the cease fire in -- he did this because he thought the United States had his back.

Because he has the money that he needs to run Egypt for the next six months in the year lined up for at least pledged.

And he thought he could get away with it and he's now seeing that the resistance to him and his party.

And his way of thinking as much deeper.

And much brighter than he had anticipated so that brings us to another central question Robin do you think that the priority of Morrissey and who is you know in charge of forming this new Egyptian government the priority is -- stronger.

Safer more powerful Egypt or stronger.

More powerful Muslim the Muslim Brotherhood -- wait where did the priorities lie.

So that's the big question and will know more.

Over the next week or ten days this is a confrontation that can't endure because it.

Has the potential to do the same thing to the Muslim Brotherhood that it did -- Mubarak undermine his credibility and his ability to rule long term.

And this is a crisis that Egypt as the heart and soul and intellectual center of the Arab world really can't afford right now this is the this is the barometer of the test case for the wider Arab world.

You know another power vacuum could be created duty if if that does happen if for some reason we see more turmoil and and those in power and not those Tuesday.

Who would -- to that power vacuum.

If for example -- doesn't stay or there is some sort of chain well the problem for Morrissey and the problem for secularist says -- -- secularist -- divided.

And to the right.

Of president worse here the south -- us who.

Want even more Islamic government and less pragmatism the kind of pragmatic line that up until his power grab.

President Marci had been promoting.

So he is now caught in the middle he has to find a way to kind of backed down on what was clearly -- -- calculation.

And a mistake.

He doesn't want to do that the brotherhood seems to be supporting him if we can judge by these plans demonstrations for Saturday but remember.

You're still going to have the courts rule on what his he has tried to do on Sunday at least that's what's.

I projected and we also have.

A strike by judges plans so this is going to get ugly but this is a crisis a president more c.'s own making.

The United States has been critical of him I think that's a good policy and if I think we should continue to be critical.

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Protests rage in Egypt over Morsi power grab

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