History shows that in the aftermath of any revolution, some of its leaders will gradually sacrifice their high-minded principles for political convenience. But there is something particularly dispiriting about the way Egypt’s so-called liberals, who played a key part in the thrilling 2011 uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak, have so enthusiastically reneged on the fundamental tenets of political pluralism and democracy. There could scarcely be anything less democratic, after all, than backing a military takeover of a government that, while ineffective and unpopular, was nevertheless elected in a free and fair vote.