New Egyptian Constitution  Democracy Hangs by a Thread  The new
draft constitution sets down the timetable for democratic
transition on paper, but the police and military are standing
guard at the station and controlling the points, writes Karim
El-Gawhary in his commentary  How good is a draft constitution
that contains many positive articles, when a not insignificant
element of the political landscape was excluded from the
constitutional assembly and while the police state rages out on
the streets?  This is the question that Egyptians must now ask
themselves after the constitutional assembly voted on the 247
articles that will now go to a referendum.  Many of the articles
look good on paper, with one important exception: The Egyptian
military has ensured that its role in politics has been
enshrined in the draft document. For the next eight years at
least, the military will decide on who fills the post of defence
minister.  Muslim Brotherhood shunned  The process through which
the draft came about was even m