Whats Next in Egypt?Stephen Lendman Headlines said Egyptians celebrated Morsis ouster. Fireworks lit up Cairos sky. On February 12, 2011, jubilant crowds reacted the same way. Millions hailed Mubaraks removal. People overthrew entrenched power, they believed. Hoped for change didnt follow. So-called Arab spring didnt bloom. It wasnt meant to. Expect nothing different this time. Wealth, power and privilege alone matter. Its de rigueur. Its true throughout the region. Its how things are in Western and most other societies. Washington largely dictates Egyptian policy. One to two billion dollars annually buys lots of influence. Imperial power assures it most of all. Egyptians want real change. They want vital concerns addressed. They want real democracy, not pretense. They want respect, not repression. They want decent jobs and pay, affordable prices, and better services. They want longstanding corruption ended. They want poverty alleviated. They deserve it and much more. Theyve been denied much too long. They put their bodies on the line for change. They showed courage doing so. Some already are in custody. Freedom and Justice Party head Saad el-Katatni was arrested. So was Muslim Brotherhood deputy head Khairet el-Shater. Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said: The address of the president (Tuesday) did not meet the demands of the people. He added that talks remain ongoing to agree on an interim transition. Before his ouster, Morsi said he didnt recognize coup authority. He urged mass opposition. Hes out of office. Hes out of luck. He may end up in prison. Hes powerless to prevent whats planned. Coup detat power rules. Martial law was declared. Egypts constitution was suspended. A new one will be written. Parliamentary elections were promised. SCAF said soon as possible. Perhaps months will pass before held. Theyll lack legitimacy like last time. Military.com headlined Marines Put on Standby to Respond to Egypt Unrest, saying: Marines in Spain, Italy and perhaps elsewhere are poised to intervene. Military.com said they may be sent to Cairo to protect and/or evacuate US citizens. Theyll guard Washingtons embassy. Perhaps Obama has something else in mind. Pentagon spokesman George Little said: We do believe we have taken steps to ensure our military is ready to respond to a range of contingencies. He stopped short of elaborating. On July 3, a White House statement was typically duplicitous. It expressed support for core (democratic) principles (and) universal human rights. Obamas words rang hollow. They always do. He deplores what he claims to endorse. He urge(d) all sides to avoid violence and come together to ensure the lasting restoration of Egypts democracy. Egypt never had democracy. It has none now. It wont no matter what happens going forward. Entrenched power rules. Washington supports it. Obamas right saying (t)he longstanding partnership between the United States and Egypt is based on shared interests and values. He didnt explain. He means power, not populism. Morsi was Washingtons man. He became damaged goods. He fell from grace. SCAFs coup followed Obamas approval. Good relations with America matter. Much depends on them. Ousting Morsi required permission to do so. Defying Washington is a bad idea. It risks trouble. It assures retaliation. SCAF knows how things work. Going along to get along is fundamental. Obama effectively endorsed Morsis removal. He duplicitously requested Egypts military to move quickly and responsibly to return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible through an inclusive and transparent process. On July 4, Voice of Russia headlined Judge to lead Egypt after army ousts Morsi, saying: SCAF chose Adly Mansour. Hes interim president. Hes an establishment figure. He heads Egypts Supreme Constitutional Court. He helped draft legal procedures ahead of Egypts June 2012 election. On June 1, he was appointed SCC chief justice. Now hes interim president. Former IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei is Egypts interim prime minister. He heads the so-called National Salvation Front. He does so jointly with former Arab League secretary-general Amr Moussa and Egyptian Popular Current leader Hamdeen Sabahi. Its an anti-Morsi umbrella group. It represents divergent views. It defends privilege against populism. Its pro-Western. It offers no change. Ordinary Egyptians are entirely left out. Soon enough theyll know. Celebratory exuberance wont last. Widespread anger will again erupt. Mansour and ElBarardei represent same old, same old. Theyll govern until parliamentary elections are held. ElBaradei looks like Washingtons choice to lead. If elected, Egyptians will again be cheated. Hes a longstanding establishment figure. Populisms not his mandate. Its not his concern. He represents what Egyptians deplore. Soon enough theyll know. Hes a pro-Western stooge. His credentials are worrisome. Hes connected to the International Crisis Group. In 1995, it was founded by former World Bank vice president Mark Malloch Brown and former US diplomat Morton Abramowitz. It supports power, not popular interests. Current and former top officials include Zbigniew Brzezinski, General Wesley Clark, Kofi Annan, Javier Solana, Larry Summers, George Mitchell, Thomas Pickering, George Soros, Kenneth Adelman, Stanley Fischer, and Carla Hills among others. Ahead of Mubaraks ouster, ElBaradei supported the US-backed April 6 Youth Movement. Egypts so-called revolution was more color than real. Its strategy was fomenting unrest. Its objective was regime change. Its about installing pro-Western puppets. When previous ones fall from grace, theyre replaced. ElBaradeis a reliable imperial ally. Hes a 2005 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Nearly always its for establishment figures. It reeks of hypocrisy. Disreputable recipients win. Its more about war, not peace. Steven A. Cook is a Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) senior fellow. He specializes in Middle Eastern studies. On March 26, 2010, he headlined Is ElBaradei Egypts Hero? Egypts close relationship with the United States has become a critical and negative factor in Egyptian politics, he said. ElBaradeis a useful stooge for good reason. He wont be accused of being one. Hes part of Washingtons plan going forward. Hes a wolf in sheeps clothing. Hes connected to Americas power elite. Theyll present him as a unifying figure. The new boss resembles previous ones. Its true for reasons mattering most. ElBaradei looks like Washingtons new man in Cairo. Watch for scoundrel media endorsements. Foreign Policy associate editor David Kenner asked Could (he) be Egypts Next Ruler? Rumors suggest maybe so. Ahead of Morsis ouster he told Kenner John Kerry had raised the possibility with him. At the time, he denied interest. At this stage, he said, I think I would be more effective frankly being outside the system and try to focus on the bigger picture. Saying it perhaps was diplomatic coyness. At the same time, he didnt discount the possibility. He stressed getting Egypt on the right track going forward. Doing so requires Washington-endorsed leadership. Maybe he has himself in mind. His agenda isnt what Egyptians want or deserve. Theyll know soon enough. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War.Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. 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