tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003335.post7251886557085490866..comments2024-03-23T00:46:27.084+02:00Comments on Egyptian Chronicles: What Really Concerns me in the Armed forces reshuffle !!Zeinobiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12290387395565291310noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003335.post-13685580357222083472012-08-16T08:08:39.077+02:002012-08-16T08:08:39.077+02:00This fits into Egypt's national pass-time - al...This fits into Egypt's national pass-time - always blame Sadat, never Nasser. The relation between Nasser and the Soviets was always tenuous because Nasser assiduously suppressed the Egyptian Communists. This precluded whole-hearted Soviet support, which alone would have given Egypt a chance to prevail against Israel.<br /><br />This is not the time for a wish-list about the army. A decent army, not more concerned with business than military matters, can come only with complete civilian control. The only chance of this is with Morsi and the Brotherhood. Given that the government AND THE PEOPLE are religious, very likely the army will have some of that character. At this point, waxing lyrical about the military can only hurt the reform of that institution and therefore, in the end, Egypt's military capabilities.Michael Neumannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01558892758943318577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003335.post-84101265647900128492012-08-16T04:05:58.055+02:002012-08-16T04:05:58.055+02:00I agree with the above post that Iran is a good ex...I agree with the above post that Iran is a good example of self-reliance. However, unless one plays ball with their neighbors, it may also see Iran is not admired or loved by any. That then becomes problematic for the ability to keep a peace in the Middle East for long. I recall when Mr. Sadat wrote about her husband's seeming acceptance of the Shah's Peacock Throne and in your face riches during austere times. Mrs Sadat said, "Anwar, these people are going to rise up against him". See her book "A Woman of Egypt"<br /><br />She was right.<br /><br />You have to also play ball to get along with others and not become an isolated country too. That's important to seek a balance between the two extremes.<br /><br />deb arizonahttp://az.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003335.post-64855748508424807042012-08-16T03:07:46.352+02:002012-08-16T03:07:46.352+02:00Thanks for the good post.
I believe these change...Thanks for the good post. <br /><br />I believe these changes are key for the success of Egypt as a country and one step in the 1000 miles journey to resolve issues developed from the legacy of Mubarak 30 years in power. One of these issues is the forces of Egypt (I mean by the armed forces and all state agencies concerned with the national security) have lost direction and focus on key strategic challenges in Africa and Middle East that has serious impact on Egypt National Security. These challenges are: <br /><br />1) the threat on the Nile and Egypt share of the water which is under threat from A) Dames under constructions on the sources feeding the Nile B) the establishment of South Sudan state. <br />2) Security in Sinai due the inherited weakness from the restrictions from peace treaty with Israel. <br />3) The siege on Gaza is developing into chronic issue that has created the smuggling business with all what it may comes with it. <br />4) The lack of strategic geographic depth to defend the main centers in mainland Egypt due to restriction on military presences in Sinai. <br />5) The naval threats to the Suez Canal due 1) Israel presences in the Eritrean Waters 2) Instability in Yemen which affect the flow of shipping lines through Bab El Mandeb 3) The Somalian piracy <br />6) Threats of more separations/division of Sudan unity especially in Darfur can have long term effects on sleeping separation dreams from some in South Egypt and the immediate threat to lake Naser and High Dam. <br /><br />The forces of Egypt, for the past 30 years, has changed or ignored threats definition for national security. Furthermore these bodies have elected to act only within boarders of Egypt on the map and they would deal with a threat only if it cross such boarder lines. In national security, your boarders starts where your national interest reach. <br /><br />Some people would argue that Egypt during Naser rule has went beyond boarders and have paid dear price as a result of such national security definitions. I would agree and disagree with them: I agree that the application was badly managed and staffed at the leadership level with the wrong people and I disagree that national security should stay within boarders as countries pay dear price for such strategy (USA in WWII did pay that price) <br /><br />The new minister of defense in Egypt and chief of armed forces has really huge task ahead of them around: <br />1) How to diversify the sources of arms<br />2) How to develop self sufficient capable and high tech military industry. This task should be a national agenda for everybody in Egypt: Army, government, public sector, eduction sector, and private sector. <br />3) How to develop the naval forces in Red Sea and extend the arm length and geographical reach for such fleet. <br />4) Prepare for the renegotiation of the peace treaty with Israel as a key in resolving key strategic and operational challenges in Sinai. <br />5) How to become far less dependent on the US aid <br />6) How to create a highly mobile, agile, armed with intense fire power, long reach army divisions to be ready for actions beyond the boarders. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003335.post-560913242982130022012-08-15T19:02:07.159+02:002012-08-15T19:02:07.159+02:00The corruption started with 'the so called US ...The corruption started with 'the so called US aid' for the last 30+ years, where 70% of it is "military aid !!!!" following supposedly made peace between Egypt &Israel! Who do you think benefit from that stupid so called 'aid'??. If we are in peace why do we need to spend huge money on arms (supplied by US manifactures!!?) is the corruption difficult to track now?. Egypt should focus on tourism, agriculture, education and health care. Forget these politico arm Mafia life the country lived in the last 50 years. Do you see Spain, Italy, Sweden ..etc spend money on arms ???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003335.post-43431939856870528252012-08-15T17:04:14.722+02:002012-08-15T17:04:14.722+02:00Great post Zenobia
I wish for Egypts army to be st...Great post Zenobia<br />I wish for Egypts army to be strong again like in the days of the pharaohs. For it to stand on its own feet and stop the factory and resort businesses and concentrate like never before to arm, strengthen, manufacture it own weaponry instead of being reliant on others. To become more independant like Iran. Good training, good structure, invest in home made weaponry that you dont have to beg others for spare parts for. Iran is a good example of self reliance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003335.post-45424935894109672752012-08-15T12:40:20.939+02:002012-08-15T12:40:20.939+02:00The smooth transition indicates that these changes...The smooth transition indicates that these changes were agreed upon before being announced to the public.<br />The SCAF is still the power to be reckoned with and is happy to move away from politics and continue the comfortable position it had for the past 60 years.<br />Now, Morsi and his government are alone in facing the insurmountable economic, social, political and many other problems that were left unresolved for the past 30 years. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003335.post-73194889018599755912012-08-15T09:01:50.764+02:002012-08-15T09:01:50.764+02:00As long as the minister of defense is an in-servic...As long as the minister of defense is an in-service(active) officer, our army won't be independent. Refer to General Saad El-Shazli's Book on October war.خالدhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18153850098117793919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003335.post-65281072670491424712012-08-15T03:38:00.485+02:002012-08-15T03:38:00.485+02:00The huge dependence on US aid, the corruption and ...The huge dependence on US aid, the corruption and colossal salaries among the high ranks, the accepted fact inside the army that recruits are a form of slave labour used for serving their officers and the officers' families or working in fields and wataneya stores, these are all problems that can not be tackled easily.<br />I share your hopes for the Egyptian army, but it is a world of its own that is not easily affected by whatever changes or revolutions happening outside, there has to be a revolution from within.<br />I am not suggesting a coup of some sort, but a set of radical changes to the policies which honestly I do not believe that Elsisy is strong enough to perform.knasrhttp://knasrattormail.orgnoreply@blogger.com