How The Military Won The Egyptian Election

Mohamed Morsy may be Egypt's first popularly chosen President, but a group of 19 generals are still the country's real rulers

Daniel Berehulak / Getty Images

Egyptian presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi (C) of the Muslim Brotherhood arrives to speak at a press conference on June 13, 2012 in Cairo, Egypt

Clarification appended: June 30, 2012

The junta was magnanimous and did not begrudge its old enemies their joy. One day after the Muslim Brotherhood set off fireworks over Tahrir Square to celebrate its historic presidential victory, Major General Mohamed Said el-Assar, one of the 19 members of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which has officially ruled Egypt for 16 months (apart from tacitly commanding the nation since 1952), sounded proud, not defeated. "Now we have a new elected President, so that is a great accomplishment for SCAF," the general enthused in an exclusive interview with TIME, even though the...

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