Monday, April 25, 2005

Mubarak is back in Part II: Terrorism and Kabab. I watched the second installment of the marathon interview with Husni Mubarak. The questions were far more annoying than before. And the "secret" and silent command center I mentioned was not only for the Air Force, but for the entire Armed Forces of Egypt. Now we know why it was dead silent. The president was asked about his aversion to taking credit, about his modesty, about his wisdom, about his "developing of a special thermometer to measure the sincerity or insincerity of people that he deals with"--that was an actual question, I swear, and about his reputation that he never makes decisions rashly, and that he consults with a large number of people. It was interesting how defensive Mubarak was about the joint military maneuvers that his forces conduct with US troops. But he said those joint military maneuvers with "Italian, British, French, Saudi.." and then added as an afterthought--and in passing--and "US forces" do not in any way harm the precious Egyptian sovereignty. He said it was good to learn about other militaries' methods and weapons. At one point, when Mubarak finished answering a question, Adib (see post from yesterday) told him: "That was a very intelligent answer." How pathetic are Arab regimes. How desperate they are for victories that they have to go back in history to draw upon real or imagined victories. I am told that in Part III, Mubarak will talk about his heroic role in the Arab conquest of Spain in 710 AD. Apparently, Mubarak was a military advisor for Tariq Bin Ziyad, and led his Air Force. The top secret command center was silent as usual. Again, I only once heard a voice. I was able to decipher the words of the Israeli Minister of Defense yelling in a speakerphone: "Mubarak. Go to sleep. It is late already." At that point, Adib finished the interview, or that part of the marathon interview.
The marathon interviews were "directed" by veteran Egyptian director, Sharif `Arafah, who directed, among other films, Al-Irhab Wa-l-Kabab. (Terrorism and Kabab)