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Oct 27, 2013
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Al-Ahram Deputy Editor Calls for Egyptian-Russian Military Collaboration at the Expense of the U.S.

#4031 | 05:00
Source: Mayadeen TV (Lebanon)

In a recent TV interview, Ashraf Abu Al-Houl, deputy editor of the Egyptian "Al-Ahram" daily, called for a return to Russian armaments and military cooperation, and said that Russia "could establish, along with Egypt and other countries in the region, an axis that would counter-balance the American axis." In the interview, aired on the Lebanese Mayadeen TV channel, believed to be affiliated with Iran, Abu Al-Houl further said that the U.S. was operating on an agenda to destroy and fragment Arab countries for the sake of Israel.


Following are excerpts from the interview, which aired on October 27, 2013:


Ashraf Abu Al-Houl: Ever since the crisis in Egypt began, until June 30, 2013, when the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood was finally toppled, Vladimir Putin made a serious effort to improve Russia's relations with Egypt, and supported the Egyptian people's anti-American stance. Consequently, Putin, and Russia in general, became very popular in Egypt. He is very welcome in Egypt, now that he is said to be coming here.


There are even calls in Egypt – especially after the U.S. decided to reduce its military aid to the country – to return to Russian armaments and to collaboration with Russia, considering that to this day, most Egyptian weaponry is Russian. Russian weapons have always been better. Egyptian soldiers trained mostly on these weapons and gained expertise.


When the former USSR was giving Egypt airplanes, tanks, or missiles, it provided the complete systems. The U.S., on the other hand, refrains from providing critical parts and night-vision equipment whenever it provides a military system to any Arab country, in order to maintain Israel's qualitative edge.


[...]


It would be better if there was military cooperation between Egypt and Russia. Let me remind you that the Russian airplanes and tanks are better than their American counterparts. The Sukhoi and MiG airplanes and the tanks of the T series are better than the Abrams and M60 tanks and than the F15 and F16 airplanes.


[...]


Russia can cooperate with Egypt and provide it with a lot of [military equipment]. It could establish, along with Egypt and other countries in the region, an axis that would counter-balance the American axis, and moreover, would help it enter the large and promising African markets, which have been invaded by China, and which the U.S. has entered gingerly, via Israel.


[...]


When the U.S. enters [a country], it wreaks destruction for the sake of Israel. When the Russians arrive, and people recall that the Russians helped...


Interviewer: Did the U.S. wreak destruction in Egypt as well?


Ashraf Abu Al-Houl: Much of the corruption of political life in the Mubarak era stemmed from overt and covert American intervention. They played a role in the corruption of Egyptian businessmen and politics. Personally, I believe in the conspiracy theory that maintains that the destruction and the fragmenting of the Arab countries stems not from internal revolutions, but from a U.S. agenda ever since the 1973 war, to weaken and fragment the countries bordering on Israel, in order to make Israel safe, and so that the 1973 war will be the last war waged by the Arabs in unison. We saw this in fragmenting of the Iraqi army, the fragmenting and destruction of much of the Syrian army, and the fragmenting of the Libyan and Yemeni armies. Only the Egyptian army remains.


[...]


Let me remind you that the U.S. aid to Egypt was not given as a gift. Its goal was to guarantee Egypt's commitment to the Camp David Accords. Therefore, now that the aid has been stopped or reduced...


Interviewer: The Camp David Accords are in jeopardy?


Ashraf Abu Al-Houl: Yes.


[...]


From what I understand, Egyptian efforts are currently underway to soften the Saudi position vis-à-vis Syria, and to convince the Saudis that it would be much better for the Syrian regime to remain in power, and that it would be much more dangerous if a terrorist regime arose there. Such a regime would destroy the region and spread chaos in it.


[...]

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