There was great optimism when the peoples of various Middle Eastern nations began clamoring for change in their oppressive governments. In some cases, that’s exactly what they got.
Egyptians, for instance, forced longtime President Hosni Mubarak out of power. Their reasons for doing so are understandable; he had ruled dictatorially.
Many in Egypt and the West “naturally” assumed that a truly representative government would arise to take Mubarak’s place, and set Egypt on the path to liberty and prosperity. But Egypt may descend into even worse tyranny, such as Iran-style rule by radical Muslims.
Mubarak long kept tight controls on a radical group in Egypt called the Muslim Brotherhood. A cell of that organization had played a role in the assassination of Mubarak’s predecessor, Anwar Sadat.
Protesters who toppled Mubarak thought (or hoped) that the Muslim Brotherhood would, at most, be one voice among many as Egypt tries to form a new governing structure.