The revolution betrayed

Opinion: December 27, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Baltimore Sun: The high hopes of the Egyptian people for a peaceful transition to democracy are being thwarted by the brutal tactics of the country’s military rulers, who in recent days have launched a bloody campaign of repression against protesters demanding an immediate turnover of power to an elected civilian government. The armed forces, once revered as guardians of the popular uprising that overthrew longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak in February, now appear desperate to cling to power at any cost.

Reports from the capital over the last few days have been horrific: Women stripped and dragged half naked through the streets by police in riot gear; civilians beaten, kicked and stomped by government thugs; thousands of men, women and children arrested and thrown into prison. Meanwhile, the military’s top general denies his forces are playing any role in the violence and blames the unrest on foreign elements intent of destroying the state.

That’s the “big lie” that is the signature art form of totalitarian despots: Tell a whopper, no matter how outrageous or absurd, then repeat it so often people simply tire of disbelieving it. Except in this case, the evidence pouring out of Egypt via the Internet and satellite TV is so overwhelming it has exposed the military’s duplicity to the entire world.