MEMRI May 11, 2012 Special Dispatch No.4723
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/6365.htm

Egyptian Scholar Mamoun Fandy: 'The Muslim Brotherhood Is the Political Wing
of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces'

Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian scholar Mamoun Fandy,
which aired on ANB TV on March 30, 2012.

Mamoun Fandy: "People mistakenly draw a distinction between the Supreme
Council of Armed Forces and the Muslim Brotherhood. In my view, however, the
Freedom and Justice Party is not the political wing of the Muslim
Brotherhood. Rather, the Muslim Brotherhood itself is the political wing of
the SCAF."

Interviewer: "To that extent?"

Mamoun Fandy: "Of course. The first deal struck between the SCAF and the
Muslim Brotherhood was that the Muslim Brotherhood would serve as the
popular wing of the SCAF, in order to thwart the revolution. The SCAF has
transformed from protecting the revolution to protecting the
counter-revolution. The conduct of the SCAF over the past year has proven
that it is an indispensable part of the counter-revolution, because its
desire to maintain its funds and its status in society outweighed the need
for a comprehensive vision for post-revolution Egypt.

"Ultimately, the SCAF and the Muslim Brotherhood cannot see past their own
noses. They cannot envision a new, free, Egypt. It all boils down to their
narrow interests – a few billion dollars that they want to keep. In Egypt,
it's all about money. […]

"The youth [of the revolution] believed in and dreamt of a better future.
But they have gradually come to realize that they are dealing with a regime
that is worse than Mubarak's, a regime that stripped a young girl naked in
Tahrir Square by beating her. Egyptian society has never witnessed such
things before – such violence that violates all prohibitions – even when the
Arab treatment of women is taken into account. We have witnessed violence
and bullying, both physical and cultural.

"Egyptian society is considered to be moderate in its thinking, but the
moderates have withdrawn from the scene, because the rod is very hard
indeed. I am referring to the 'rod' of the SCAF – its weapons, its beatings
in the streets, and the 'rod' of accusing people of heresy."

Interviewer: "Is the withdrawal of the moderates final?"

Mamoun Fandy: "It is not for good. I think they have retreated for a while,
in order to gather strength for a greater and more profound revolution,
which might even include violence. The next revolutionary wave will not be
peaceful, as some may think." […]