The 2011 Arab Spring uprisings brought unprecedented change to Egypt. But even when millions of protesters forced President Hosni Mubarak to step down after 30 years in office, much of the country's power structure remained in place. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) held fast to power as it scrambled to respond, launching Cabinet reshuffles, partially lifting the state of emergency and prosecuting officials from Mubarak's fallen government. These moves, however, seemed more an attempt to appease the public than an earnest effort to reform the Egyptian political system. During his brief stint in office, President Mohammed Morsi made no attempt to push the army out of politics and instead opted to work with select factions of the military against others. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the director of military intelligence, appeared willing to work with Morsi, who made him minister of defense....
