So the protests in Egypt were successful and the sitting regime was ousted.  But now the harder part comes in trying to figure out where the country goes from here.

In your average Western democracy or parliamentary system you have regular changes in leadership, but the country continues due to the systemic institutions that are in place.  Your typical military coup institutes the might makes right rule and a general ends up telling everyone what to do.  But in Egypt you had a pseudo spontaneous uprising of the people, who then wanted the military to take over once the old regime was out.

The only problem, at least from what I understand, is the military wasn’t exactly pining for control of the country and isn’t the best situated to take over.  On top of that, I’m only aware of one instance where a military junta took power with the goal of getting a civilian government into power (Mauritania, don’t ask me why I know that).

I just hope the people of Egypt actually get what they protested for, the opportunity to determine their own future.