NEARLY a year-and-a-half after the revolution that shook the
Arab world, Egypt is poised to take another stride on the bumpy
road to democracy. The recent spectacle of an Islamist candidate
and his more secular-minded rival arguing it out for several
hours on television before an audience of millions was historic
(see article). On May 23rd, 52m voters in the most populous Arab
country, 82m-strong, will be entitled to vote for their
president. If no candidate among the 13 runners wins more than
50%, a run-off between the top pair will take place a month
later. By the beginning of July, Egypt should have its first
democratically elected head of state. If the vote passes off
peacefully and cleanly, it will deserve a huge hurrah.  It has
not been easy. The process has been bungled by the Supreme
Council of the Armed Forces, or SCAF, a cabal of senior
soldiers. At times the SCAF has seemed reluctant to cede power.
It has played tricks on the democrats and looked the other way
or connived at human-rights abuses. It