New Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood

Didn't take all that long now, did it? The Egyptian military offering up Hosni Mubarak as a sop to the demands of the democracy-demanding rebellion, looking to political expedience to extend their power-rule, with yet another figurehead at the helm of government. Above all, the target is to still the protests, get people back in their hovels and out looking for non-existent jobs.

And making pacts with the devil that has for the past 50 years been considered beneath notice.

All the Western-based prognosticators and apologists for the Muslim Brotherhood, claiming that they are no longer a violent terrorist organization, but rather a misunderstood almost secular-oriented albeit Islamist-obsessed group seeking only to proffer themselves as an option for control of the country. Perhaps it might be wise, they said, to give them a chance to demonstrate what they are capable of.

They have been capable of infiltrating Western society to portray themselves as a reasonable option to al-Qaeda. But only by a matter of degrees, might be the conclusion reached by those who understand what they're really after. Control and influence, and it's heading their way. The Egyptian military appears to have made their peace with the Muslim Brotherhood and why should that be surprising since fanatical Islamists have infiltrated the corridors of power and the military in most Muslim countries.

While most Egyptians are still avidly concentrating on the possibility that their country will have undergone a revolution they hoped for, offering a kind of Middle East version of liberty and equality, rule of law and far less corruption, they may yet wait. "We are all worried. The young people have no control of the revolution anymore. It was evident in the last few weeks when you saw a lot of bearded people taking charge. The youth are gone", lamented one man, whose observation was a reflection of a secular minority.

And now that the youth are no longer in evidence, other Islamists have stepped forward to offer themselves to take charge of Egypt's interests, social, political and religious. Six ultraconservative Salafist Islamist groups have stood forward. They offer an alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood which was hesitant to come front and centre in the early protest stages, but worked eagerly behind the scenes to make a place for themselves.

The youthful demonstrators had it right when some of them offered the opinion that they were doing all the revolutionary work, and they had no intention of allowing the Muslim Brotherhood to move in and claim control of their revolution. Despite which, once the military showed it meant business and cleared Tahrir Square dispersing the demonstrators, the Muslim Brotherhood stepped up, offering to work alongside the military suddenly recognizing them as respectable.

With their discreet, but well-oiled organizational structure and their hundred-thousand-strong supporters they present as a viable partner with the military to begin the vital reconstruction of the country's political and social system promised the demonstrators. Political Islamism is on the rise everywhere in the Muslim world.

When Egypt's new prime minister addressed the crowd in Tahrir Square, Mohamed el-Beltagi, a Brotherhood member, was right beside him. Another Brotherhood member was appointed to the committee tasked with drafting amendments to the Constitution. For the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian revolution that the mostly secular-oriented, idealistic Egyptian youth began, presented a serendipitous opportunity.

And they will make the most of it. Who is there now to stop them in their advance? So much for the knowledgeable and understanding Western punditry.