iron fist

There is reason to worry about what is coming when election results are announced, most likely tomorrow:

“We will face anyone who will pose a challenge to the public and private sectors with an iron fist,” SCAF’s statement said.

We’ve seen iron fists more than once in the past 18 months, but to my knowledge this is the first time the Army has proclaimed its potential agency in using them.

More on the story:

“Egyptian reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei — the former head of U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency and the winner of a Nobel Peace Prize — said he’s been in close contact with the military council and the intelligence services on the one hand, and Morsi on the other, and has urged them to avoid a showdown.

He said if Shafik, seen by many as the face of the old regime and the current military leadership, is declared the winner ‘we are in for a lot of instability and violence … a major uprising.’ He isn’t as worried about a Morsi victory because Shafik supporters are unlikely to take their anger to the streets, he said.

He described the current situation as ‘a total, complete 100 percent mess.’

Muslim Brotherhood lawmakers met with political leaders to discuss plans for a coalition to fight what they believe is a power grab by the military, according to the Facebook page of its Freedom and Justice Party.

‘We will NOT accept this coup against democracy,’ it said, adding that ‘together, we will march on to complete the revolution.'”