President Morsi starts out on the right track...

President Morsi's purge of the top ranks of the Egyptian military has me cautiously optimistic. It shows that he's serious about civilian rule, and perhaps is even serious about solidifying democracy within Egypt. What holds me back is observations like this:

Whether or not Mr. Morsi struck a bargain with the younger officers, he might have enhanced his credibility with political forces outside the Brotherhood who had clamored for an end to military rule. At the same time, he could gain a degree of loyalty from a cast of officers who owe their new prominence to him. (My emphasis)

In a democracy, the military has to be loyal to the office and "the people" - not any one man. Presidents should never be imperial - they have to be, by necessity, temporary office holders. They serve out their terms and peacefully make way for the next leader. Meanwhile, there's no doubt that Egypt's military was corrupt, with cronyism and the inevitably resulting incompetence and power-grabbing, being more important to the generals than providing any sort of effective, professional military force. That Egypt's military was somewhat professional is a testament to the resilience of the lower officer ranks!

A viable democracy is a complex entity; it needs many things to go well, and it absolutely requires the eager prosecution of corruption. The Arab spring has given a number of nations the chance to build those institutions and develop the necessary rule of law. What will stand in their way, thwarting the efforts of pro-democracy politicians and activists will be leaders, former and current, who value their own power more than they value the power of the people.

Let us hope that President Morsi has the courage, and wit, to recognize and stand up to those interests and individuals. He has a chance to shape Egyptian democracy and give it a firm footing. He's started out right, let's hope he can get the internal support he needs to continue the job.

Carolyn Ann