Those sentiments reflect the Muslim Brotherhood's understanding that the environment in Egypt is not compatible with Islamist rule. The secular base in Egypt is too broad to be toppled immediately. Hence, if the Muslim Brotherhood wants a voice, it will have to find that voice within the context of a broader political framework. Domination, which would otherwise be its preferred course, is not an option at present. Egypt is not the Iran of 1979 where the base of secularism was visible but very superficial. That base is much more entrenched and enduring in Egypt.
Taking all that into consideration, the start of a post-Mubarak era (whether it begins after September or some time earlier matters little), will more than likely see pragmatism when it comes to key domestic and foreign policy issues in Egypt. Hence, I do not believe that the first post-Mubarak government would rescind the Egypt-Israel peace agreement, even as some pundits have all but written the demise of the agreement. The major challenges facing such a government would be to lay a path that leads to a more democratic political framework and also one that leads to more robust economic growth necessary to produce meaningful opportunities for Egypt's growing population, especially its younger people. Nonetheless, I suspect that U.S. policy vaccilation on recent Egyptian affairs will lead to a need to reinvigorate the U.S.-Egypt relationship afterward, as perceptions of U.S. reliability among all parties has been undermined to some extent by fluctuating policy statements.
