A General pinning his Islamist

"I became minister of defence due to the military's will and not yours, and you know this very well. Moreover, you can't remove me; that's it, you no longer have any legitimacy" - General al-Sisi, responding to President Morsi's threat to dismiss him. 

On July 5, 2013, El Watan, an Egyptian daily, published the dialogue (in Arabic) between General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and President Dr Muhammad Morsi that took place on Tuesday, July 2, 2013, a few hours before Morsi's final speech to the nation and after that his detention. A reporter was allowed to witness and transcribe their conversation from a TV screen (translated by Raymond Ibrahim): - 

Morsi: What's the military's position concerning what's going on? Is it just going to stand by watching? Shouldn't it protect the legitimacy?

Sisi: What legitimacy? According to documented reports, the entire army is with the people's will, and most people don't want you.

Morsi: My supporters are many, and they won't be silent.

Sisi: The army will not allow anyone to destroy the nation, no matter what happens.

Morsi: What if I don't want to leave?

Sisi: The matter is settled and no longer up to you. Try to leave with your dignity and tell those you call supporters to return to their homes to prevent bloodshed instead of threatening the people through them.

Morsi: But it will be a military coup, and America won't leave you alone.

Sisi: The people concern us, not America. And since you've started to talk this way, I'll talk to you candidly. We have evidence to condemn you and many governmental officials for compromising Egypt's national security. The judiciary will have its say, and you will all be judged before the whole people.

Morsi: Okay, can you permit me to make a few phone calls, and afterwards, I'll decide what to do?

Sisi: You are not permitted, but we can only let you check up on your family.

Morsi: Am I imprisoned or what?

Sisi: You are under arrest from this moment.

Morsi: I don't think the Brotherhood will stand by if I leave office. They will set the world on fire.

Sisi: Just let them try something, and you'll see the army's reaction. Whoever among them wants to live in peace he's more than welcome; otherwise, we will not leave them alone if they try anything. We will not single anyone out, and the Brotherhood is from the Egyptian people, so don't try to use them as fuel for your disgusting war. If you genuinely love them, leave the office and let them go to their homes.

Morsi: Anyway, I'm not going, and the people outside of Egypt are all with me, and my supporters are not going.

Sisi: Anyway, I've advised you.

Morsi: Okay, but take care. I'm the one who hired you as a minister and can remove you.

Sisi: I became minister of defence due to the military's will and not yours—and you know this very well. Moreover, you can't remove me; that's it. You no longer have any legitimacy.

Morsi: Okay, if I agree to be removed, will you allow me to travel abroad and promise not to imprison me?

Sisi: I can't offer you any promises. It's the justice department that will pass its verdict.

Morsi: Okay, if that's the case, I'll make it war, and we'll see who will prevail.

Sisi: Naturally, the people will win.

Photo caption: - Supporters and opponents of Morsi clash on Friday, July 5, 2013, near Maspero, Cairo, where Egypt's state tv and radio stations are located. Tens of thousands of Islamists streamed across a Nile River bridge toward Cairo's Tahrir Square, threatening a showdown moments after the top leader of the Muslim Brotherhood defiantly spoke before a cheering crowd of supporters, vowing to reinstate ousted Morsi and end military rule. (Hassan Ammar / Associated Press)

Postscript: - If fear is a percussor to discipline, the inverse relationship between a fearsome master and a cowed minion is apparent. Drop off the imbibing of the mainstream for a while, and the fabric of the Middle East becomes distinct. The region resembles a sprawling garage with several automobiles, from the Rolls to the Hummer to the feisty Alfa. Saudi Arabia is obviously the Rolls, Jordan the Bentley, Qatar the Merc, Bahrain the Bimmer, and Kuwait is the bling-Caddy. Iran is the tenacious Pug, and Iraq is now a tame Citroen. Egypt is the old gas-guzzling Hummer, while Gaza is the feisty Alfa.

Israel owns the garage, and she is tasked with the upkeep of the vehicles. Although the Alfa is a leaker, it is the favourite of the Jewish state. Given the Paradise doctrine, maximum torque is extractable until it is totalled. Israel secretly admires its speed and tenacity, and when it begs a good trashing, she obliges; but just as she has a good run in the Le Mans of the Arab Spring, the Hummer appears to have blown a gasket.

Perception is a marketing strategy, and so is eating crow. The underlying narrative is Israel is the kingmaker in the region. Period. At some point, Hamas will be aware that the Jewish state next door is the actual patron of the Egyptian army and that Gaza is well-positioned as its 'marketing tool' or a 'shooting range' when neighbours line up to buy her Iron Domes.

Words, Tommy Peters