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On June 30, 2013, millions of Egyptians took to the street to demand the resignation of President Muhammad Morsi in what organizers called the "Tamarod," or rebellion. The military responded by issuing an ultimatum that the president step down within forty-eight hours. By July 2, the Morsi era was over

International legitimacy and international aid are Washington's best sources of leverage for convincing the Egyptian military and its allies to act responsibly.

A closer look at how Egypt's president lost his power and moral authority.

Police that suffocated protesters with tear gas in 2011 were now standing alongside them.

The chaotic events in Egypt are also a major test for Qatar, whose extensive diplomatic and financial support for Morsi's government now looks like overreach.

On July 3, Washington Institute fellow David Schenker presented a paper at an EU parliamentary conference titled “Briefing, Discussion, and Legal Implications of Religious Persecution.” The following is an excerpt; download the PDF to read the full paper. Egypt has long been ruled by authoritarians, and for most of the

Morsi is now president in name only, so Washington's priorities should be warning him against a violent crackdown and limiting the damage to Egypt's institutions.

Given the opposition's growing rage and the Brotherhood's increasingly confrontational stance, the upcoming nationwide protests are unlikely to end well.

Although Washington has long sought to moderate the Brotherhood's behavior through quiet diplomacy, Morsi's inflammatory political appointments suggest that this approach has failed.