The largely passive Egyptian Army defends just the outer perimeter of the pro-democracy demonstrations in Tahrir Square against the gangs of supporters of President Hosni Mubarak who lurk on the periphery of central Cairo. Inside the square, security is provided by a volunteer army. Young men search bags, give a light frisk, and ask everyone passing through to hold up their ID cards to check that no plain-clothes government agents have infiltrated the crowd. They are all polite. “We are very sorry,” is a common remain. “This is for your safety.” Many are also religious, with thick Islamist-style beards, or the quarter-sized forehead bruises that is a mark of fervent praying. Though they…
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How the Egyptian Uprising is Changing the Muslim Brotherhood