In a series of personnel shakeups last weekend, President Mohamed Morsi took his first bold steps as the leader of Egypt. For some, Mr. Morsi is consolidating power and pushing back against a military that attempted to box him in before his election. For others, these moves reveal the new president's real sympathies — and they align with those of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Last weekend, Mr. Morsi fired Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, minister of defense; Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Enan, chief of staff of the armed forces; and Mr. Murad Muwafi, chief of intelligence.
Mr. Morsi also canceled a controversial June 17 decree, passed by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces — the official power in Cairo at the time — that had stripped the president of control over important national security and defense prerogatives.