civilian rule, n.All

Civilian rule (n.) over ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a military state is a façade kept up by a symbiosis: local "democrats" guard privilege, and foreign liberals applaud the tender plant of democracy.

Civilian rule (n.) promised ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠by a terrorist state is a useful distraction: talk of the coming handover draws the eye from today's killing, though the generals would still hold power.