'Don't disappoint their hopes'

Washington Post senior associate editor Lally Weymouth interviewed Gen. Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi, Egypt's defense minister, armed forces commander and deputy prime minister, about the military's conflict with Mohammed Morsi, the U.S. role and the future of democracy in Egypt. Here are excerpts:

• • •

El-Sissi: The dilemma between the former president and the people originated from [the Muslim Brotherhood's] concept of the state, the ideology that they adopted for building a country which is based on restoring the Islamic religious empire.

That's what made [former President Mohammed Morsi] not a president for all Egyptians, but a president representing his followers and supporters.

Q: When did that become obvious to you?

A: It was obvious on the first day — the day of his inauguration. He started with offending the judiciary and not giving them the appropriate treatment. The Brotherhood experience in ruling a country was very modest — if not absent.

[The army] dealt with the president with all due respect for a president chosen by the Egyptians.

A: We were very keen and predetermined on his success. If we wanted to oppose or not allow them to come to rule Egypt, we would have done things with the elections, as elections used to be rigged in the past. Unfortunately, the former president picked fights with almost all the state institutions. When a president is having conflict with all of these state institutions, the chance of success for such a president is very meager.

Q: The United States is very concerned about the sit-ins at Rabaa and Nahdet.

A: We really wonder: Where is the role of the United States and the European Union and all of the other international forces that are interested in the security, safety and well-being of Egypt? Are the values of freedom and democracy exclusively exercised in your countries, but other countries do not have the right to exercise the same values and enjoy the same environment? Have you seen the scores of millions of Egyptians calling for change in Tahrir? What is your response to that?

You left the Egyptians, you turned your back on the Egyptians and they won't forget that. Now you want to continue turning your backs on Egyptians? The U.S. interest and the popular will of the Egyptians don't have to conflict. We always asked the U.S. officials to provide advice to the former president to overcome his problems.

Q: Did you feel there would be civil strife if the army didn't intervene?

What I want you to know and I want the American reader also to know is that this is a free people who rebelled against an unjust political rule, and this free people needs your support.

Q: How can you assure the United States that you don't want the military to rule Egypt, that the army wants to go back to its barracks?

A: Mark my words and take me very seriously: The Egyptian military is different from other militaries around the world.

Q: Do you really want to have civilian rule here?

A: Yes, absolutely.

We are ready to receive monitors and international observers for the elections from everywhere in the world.

The Egyptians are looking up to you, the Americans. Don't disappoint their hopes. Don't give them your backs.