In what could be either the launch of his electoral campaign or his farewell message, President Mubarak looked back at his eventful career in a three-part television interview. Nevine Khalil tuned in Will he or won't he? So far, we still don't know. Close to the end of 199 questions put to President Hosni Mubarak during a three- part, seven-hour interview, the president revealed on Tuesday that he had not yet decided whether he will stand for another term. "I have not yet decided to nominate myself," Mubarak told Emadeddin Adeeb in an interview televised simultaneously on four Egyptian and Arab channels over three days, starting Sunday. "But if I do nominate myself, I will explain to the people what my achievements have been between 1981 and 2005. I will also present my vision and ambitions for the coming years and what I can do." Mubarak added, "By nature, I take my time and study important decisions from all angles." At the same time, he noted, "if at election time the voter says 'no' to me, I will say I have done my duty and thank you." The president said he is waiting until deliberations are completed in parliament on the amendment of Article 76 of the constitution -- regulating nominations for presidential elections -- after which legislation will be passed. "After this legislation passes and becomes law, I will think about what I will do," he said. Although in the interview, called "Testimonial for Posterity", Mubarak did not answer the most pressing question, whether he will run for a fifth term, he gave viewers unprecedented insight into his character and life through a series of anecdotes and narratives beginning with his graduation from military school in 1949. These included how mortified he was when Israeli planes bombed Egypt's air force like sitting ducks in June 1967; that his only political aspiration after having led the Egyptian air force during the October 1973 War was to become ambassador to London "to have time with the family and a respite before retirement;" seeing the bullet-riddled body of former president Anwar El-Sadat next to him moments after El-Sadat was shot on 6 October 1981; and his own brush with death during an assassination attempt in Addis Ababa in 1995. Mubarak said that during international arbitration regarding sovereignty over Taba, the Egyptians relied on a map from the Ottoman era, provided by Turkey, proving the Sinai border town belonged to Egypt. More than once he stressed that dedication to his work allowed him hardly any time with his family. The stories were endless in a production which many observers suspected was the launching of his campaign for re-election in September. That remains to be seen; however, the interview was a production indeed, choreographed by the renowned director Sherif Arafa. A soundtrack was prepared by celebrated composer Ammar El-Shereie, and war and other historical footage were used for more vivid imagery, such as Mubarak picking up overturned chairs moments after El-Sadat was assassinated. Instead of the usual format for an interview, a few minutes into the first encounter Mubarak escorted Adeeb to the underground Air Force Central Command (for security reasons Adeeb would only say the site was under ground) where the rest of the interview was conducted. The president took viewers into the operations theatre to look at original war maps. In part three Mubarak was seen strolling in the gardens of the presidential palace as he spoke with his interviewer. Coming across as down to earh and frank, Mubarak impressed many viewers, some remarking that at times during the interview they forgot he was the president. This was especially true when he told viewers of the rebuilding the Egyptian armed forces went through after the 1967 defeat right until zero hour of the October War six years later. He was most animated in recalling that period, remembering facts, dates, names and episodes as if they were yesterday. One of the most valuable lessons he learnt from his days in the Air Force was "to pick which battles to enter". Mubarak also spoke extensively about the maxims that have guided him throughout his life, the most important of which is, "so long as there is life, there can be no despair. "I always look ahead and I do not let anyone discourage me... If I fail, I lift myself up, search for the causes of the failure and try again," said Mubarak, revealing an dogged streak. Added to determination, his other traits, he said, are self-confidence, discipline and a firm insistence on thinking things through from all angles, so as to "take the right decision at the right time." On this note, he recalled that after the attempt on his life in Addis Ababa, he decided against attacking Sudan, whose Islamist government had been complicit in the assassination attempt. "I always remain calm; I do not let anyone provoke me." Moving to more contemporary concerns, Mubarak insisted he had not received any "direct or indirect demands from the US to undertake political reform in Egypt." The amendment of Article 76 is "the beginning of many more reforms;" he is willing to cooperate "with any Egyptian, regardless of their political affiliations, as long as it will serve the national interest;" members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood "are welcome to participate in political life through existing political parties." He added that political parties should "revive themselves, rebuild their cadres and nominate candidates for the presidency." Mubarak added that the purpose of amending the constitution was to "encourage citizens to take part in the electoral process; it's a new experiment and has many problems. I don't expect immediate results in the upcoming elections. I have my eye on the future." On regional issues, Mubarak noted he would never allow foreign military bases in Egypt; that maintaining friendly relations with Egypt's neighbours -- Libya, Sudan and Israel -- helps ensure the country's security. He recalled the US attempt to have Egypt attack Libya under the pretext that Tripoli was a threat to Egypt and the world. "'If Libya is a threat,'" he recalled having told the Americans "'then I am capable of dealing with it.'" Mubarak added, "I will never allow our territories to be used to attack a friendly Arab and neighbouring country." Throughout the three-part interview Adeeb would try to draw general conclusions from Mubarak's invariably understated anecdotes about momentous events, which might underline the president's unique qualities as a leader of the nation and supreme commander of the armed forces. Mubarak, for his part, acknowledged that not anyone could be president. "You need certain traits; not everyone can do it."
