For decades now, Egypt has been under military based government rule. We can go far in Egyptian history and find only how the government has perfected its methodology of control and ways to squash any resistance that may occur.
You may say that the people managed to topple Mubarak but the truth is that endeavor only succeeded because Mubarak lost the support of key military figures needed to maintain his post.
Let's start by looking at how police and military recruits and officials are positioned. Did you notice that nearly no recruit or young officer is ever placed in their hometown? That is done intentionally. One key strategic aspect of this is to delineate their feelings towards the public in that area should they ever be commanded to strike against civilians. If any uprising occur, the ground crews may hesitate to fire on groups that may contain someone they know and love. But if they know no one there and are told that they are terrorists, they would fire without hesitation. Same thing with the police, if ordered to arrest and torture someone, they won't hesitate for the same reasons.
This strategy is so perfect that it goes all the way back to the romans. Remove all connection between soldiers and the public so that there would be no hesitation to follow orders.
It works every time in every corner of the world. It is a known tactic to the government that it would only fail if younger officers form a coalition and make a coup themselves.
Every government not just Egypt's knows exactly how to maintain control should a revolution occur. There are only two ways a revolution can succeed. The first is if there is an internal coup being plotted and is backing the revolution at a top level, and the second is if there a coup at the lower institutional level that leaves those in power utterly exposed.
I know this may sound cynical to some but this is the simple truth. Look at different points in history and locations around the globe critically and you will see it.