Egypt - Egyptian Military Succession Plans Told to US Embassy

[dipsydoodle]

The Egyptian military planned for a "smooth" transfer of power to the president’s son in the event of regime change, according to recently published US diplomatic cables.

A senior Egyptian politician told an American diplomat in July 2009 <09CAIRO1468> that the military would safeguard a "constitutional transition of power" and implied the armed forces would support Gamal Mubarak, the son of current president Hosni Mubarak. Dr. Ali El Deen Hilal Dessouki, a former minister in the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), claimed that even though "the real center of power in Egypt is the military", they would have "no objection to a civilian" as the next president.

A remark interpreted by the US official as a "pointed reference" to Gamal Mubarak. Dessouki went on to dismiss the possible danger of protests against the current regime, calling opposition parties "weak" and democracy a "long term goal."

"There would be some violence around the upcoming 2010 parliamentary and 2011 presidential elections", he said, "but...security forces would be able to keep it under control."

http://wikileaks.ch/Egyptian-Military-Succession-Plans.html

[SoCalDem]

1. The son left with 97 suitcases, didn't he?

:rofl:

[blindpig]

2. That ain't gonna work. n/t