Exclusive - Egypt's Sisi asks for U.S. help in fighting terrorism

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the general who ousted an elected Islamist president and is set to become Egypt’s next head of state, called on the United States to help fight jihadi terrorism to avoid the creation of new Afghanistans in the Middle East.

In his first interview with an international news organisation in the run-up to the May 26-27 vote, Sisi called for the resumption of U.S. military aid, worth $1.3 billion (776 million pounds) a year, which was partially frozen after a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

Asked what message he has for U.S. President Barack Obama, Sisi said: "We are fighting a war against terrorism."

"The Egyptian army is undertaking major operations in the Sinai so it is not transformed into a base for terrorism that will threaten its neighbours and make Egypt unstable. If Egypt is unstable then the entire region is unstable,” said a quietly spoken Sisi, wearing a dark civilian suit.

"We need American support to fight terrorism, we need American equipment to use to combat terrorism."

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/uk-egypt-sisi-idUKKBN0DV0NQ20140515

[DetlefK]

1. Meh. If Sisi is strong enough to "wipe out" the Muslim Brotherhood...

then Egypt is stable enough and doesn't need foreign money.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Yes indeed - I couldn't find the "cap in hand forum" to post that news here.

[Jefferson23]

3. He's an expert at terrorism..bastard. n/t

[Stingray steve]

4. The balls on that guy

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. His definition of terrorism is quite broad. It includes the political party he led the coup against.

And I bet he's real proud of the day his soldier gunned down 900 "terrorists" in the streets of Cairo.

Giving this regime any US assistance violates our foreign aid law.

[bemildred]

6. He should resign. nt

[JI7]

7. i wonder how he would deal with boko haram