Mohamed Morsi's speech at the Cairo University shortly after taking oath as Egypt's first freely-elected civilian president was down-to-earth enough to help dispel misconceived concerns, especially among the Western capitals that the Arab world's most populous country or the most important country of the Middle East was being taken over by Islamist extremists. All along the run-up to his oath taking ceremony, his words were being doubted, and his final victory in the run-up as pyrrhic - because he was dubbed as the choice of only about 25 percent of the Egyptians. It is hardly any surprise that the Copts didn't generally vote for him because he was being painted as 'only a modern version' of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). But in his first public address as an elected president of Egypt his focus was on a 'new Egypt' of 'all Egyptians', quite the opposite of what fitted the imagination of those who saw him through the MB prism. Will he renege on Egyptian peace accord with Israel, something the Western world was curious to know, Mohamed Morsi said, "No" Of course he didn't say in many words, and had omitted mentioning Israel by name, but sufficiently made clear that 'his administration would continue to honour its international treaties'. Since the rise of MB was a source of alarm to many Israelis, the popularly-elected president's assurance to respect peace accord received prompt reciprocity of the Israeli leadership. Not only did Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu send a letter wishing President Morsi 'good luck', President Shimon Peres conveyed the message that "contrary to war, peace is the victory of both sides'. How long this bonhomie would last, however, remains a question - given Israeli propensity to go after peaceful Palestinian protestors with gunship helicopters. President Morsi has come on stage at a time of the Middle East people's great hopes stirred by the Arab Spring and its 'can-do-it' power to topple their lands' most durable dictators. On the one hand, he has to contend with the recurring fallout of Israel's insatiable appetite for more land in Palestine and its running battles with Hamas, which never fail to affect the Arab psyche. And on the other hand, his coalition partners, particularly 'the victors of the Tahrir Square', would like him to encourage forces of change in the monarchic neighbourhood. Even more challenging to President Morsi will be taking clear line of thought, if not action, on the ongoing Syrian imbroglio and Iran-US all-embracing confrontation - given that Syria and Iran have been the Muslim Brotherhood's historical supporters. Add to the list of challenges, both domestic and international, the military's resistance to surrender its praetorian role the civilian president is certainly in for a long haul to be able to call the shots. That the overseeing generalship condescended, in the words of Supreme Council of Armed Forces (Scaf) chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, that "We will stand with new president, elected by the people" and Morsi's equaliser heaping praise on the patriotic army looked so much part of a 'deal', one would like to differ. No doubt President Morsi is seen to be short-changed by the military leadership but the fact cannot be overlooked that his election and transfer of power to a civilian is so huge in potential that reversal to old times and tactics is simply impossible. President Morsi has the desired capabilities to effect reorientation of Muslim Brotherhood's political philosophy, and bring it in harmony with the dictates of running a modern state. Egypt ruled by Pharaohs, old and latter day's, is on the brink of fundamental change; the world that help make that change less painful. If the MB rise is a reality that should be accepted with open heart, the reality has to be accepted also that it has all the potential to act antithetical to more radical forms that of late have started buffeted not very very far from there, in the heart of Africa.
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