The recent events in Egypt conjure up images of Tahrir Square two years ago. In what felt like déjà vu, millions of Egyptians flooded the streets of Cairo and other major cities this past week, demanding the removal of President Mohammed Morsi from office. And with striking similarity to how things unfolded in 2011, the Egyptian military obliged the protesters and forced out a sitting president.
But these similarities notwithstanding, it is dangerous to carry the comparison between what happened this past week and the events of 2011 too far. Despite some surface similarities, the situations themselves are quite distinct. As Washington fashions a response to the current situation, it needs to better understand the differences between 2011 and the present, and ponder what they mean for the future of Egypt.
