The Egyptian military leaders who took back power from the democratically elected government surplant their puppet figurehead as the country's leader. But they pull the strings that now control the destinies of thousands of political prisoners many of whom they have condemned to death. The Arab Spring was hailed as the chance for the people in the countries concerned to finally taste democratic freedom after suffering years under authoritarian regimes, but in most cases they have merely ended up swapping one military backed dictator wit another. For the London Times.