The Military’s Role in Political Change

As repressive regimes teeter and fall across the Middle East, the armed forces in these countries are in a consequential position. The Egyptian military quickly realized that President Mubarak’s hold on power was slipping. As protests erupted in Cairo, most of the armed forces refused to open fire on civilian protesters. However, the situation is radically different in Bahrain and Libya. What role are militaries playing in political change in the Middle East and elsewhere? Joining us to discuss the military’s role in political change is David Sanger, Chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times and weekly guest on WQXR’s “The Washington Report.”