Hossam Khairallah tells Ahmed Eleiba why he put himself forward as a presidential candidate Lieutenant General Ahmed Hossam Khairallah, who has just joined the list of presidential hopefuls, believes he has all the qualities needed of a statesman. He comes from a military family. His grandfather was Admiral Mohamed Khairallah, the man assigned the task of escorting King Farouk out of Egypt and then returning with the royal yacht. His father, Kamal Khaireddin, served as minister of the interior in the 1970s and concluded his career as governor of Aswan. For 29 years Khairallah worked in the General Intelligence Services (GIS), joining in 1976 and rising in rank until he was appointed chief of the Information and Estimation Unit five years before his retirement in 2006. Before joining GIS he spent 12 years as a paratrooper, rising to the rank of major. He is a veteran of both the Yemeni and October wars. Khairallah believes his family background and career have equipped him with the necessary leadership skills to be president. He is keen to stress that his connection with the Armed Forces ended the moment he began his career with GIS and it would be a mistake to think of him as SCAF's candidate. He says that he has a number of reservations concerning SCAF's performance during the transitional period though these shortcomings cannot, he insists, detract from the prestige of the Armed Forces. The brutality displayed in the handling of clashes with demonstrators in Mohamed Mahmoud Street which left many protesters dead was, according to Khairallah, a result of security officers being provoked and not a policy decision. Khairallah believes his presidential rivals have issued a number of unrealistic statements stemming from an inadequate grasp of the circumstances facing Egypt and says he would not have considered nominating himself had he thought any of the existing candidates could command broad-based support. The latest presidential hopeful has yet to solicit the support of any political party, and is pinning his hopes on a direct appeal to the voters. "The support of political forces is important for it is clear that they are all developing politically. However, the real test will be in handling the economic challenges beneath which Egypt is reeling," he says. Most presidential candidates have made public appearances in Tahrir Square and met with representatives of the youth movements that initiated the revolution. Not so Khairallah, though he says he kept close track of developments, often with the assistance of inside sources, but the sensitivities of his professional position prevented direct contact. He also points out: "The revolution is not yet complete. But it established a new basis of legitimacy, marking a turning point in the history of Egypt." Any controversy over the status of the Armed Forces in the new constitution and the question of SCAF's handover of power to a civilian authority is, according to Khairallah, a "storm in a teacup" since the position of the Armed Forces after the revolution will be exactly the same as before. On the fear that the army might become infiltrated by political ideologues he is adamant: "The Armed Forces are a red line. Its members must remain free of any political affiliation so that we do not repeat the Lebanese experience." Khairallah believes a new constitution must be promulgated before presidential elections are held. "The president must have a clearly defined system within which to work," he says. With regard to the status of the chief executive under the constitution, he hopes that the president will be responsible for national security and the general design of foreign policy, with relevant agencies and institutions tasked with the details of administration and execution. "There must be a language of understanding between the president and the military establishment so as to ensure a proper appraisal of needs and risks." Following his announcement of his intention to run for president rumours began to circulate to the effect that he had fallen out with former vice president Omar Suleiman. Khairallah denies this. "I have no argument with General Omar Suleiman. However, as my immediate boss I would turn to him to voice criticisms, not against him but against the president. Among my concerns was the succession scenario. The information that I had confirmed was that Gamal Mubarak was not ready [to assume the presidency]." Khairallah first met former president Mubarak in 1984. The latter was paying a visit to GIS headquarters and the young intelligence officer had five minutes in order to explain a certain case. "Mubarak listened without saying a word, which made a poor impression on me. I realised that he was just starting out as president and that there was some justification for the confusion in his policies. Unfortunately, that confusion lasted for three decades. He lacked the qualifications necessary to be a successful president." That tensions are increasing across the region has reinforced Khairallah's conviction that the army must return to its original function and prepare for developments on Egypt's eastern, western and southern borders. "The dangers are alarming and coming at us from all directions. Think only about the signals Israel is sending by creating a Sinai intervention unit, or the possible ramifications of the regional arms race. We are currently dealing with intelligence that suggests Israel is seeking to establish a foothold in Libya, via bases in the Akhdar Mountains. If this information proves correct then we are in danger." So what is the future of the Camp David accords? According to Khairallah, the tripartite treaty between Egypt, Israel and the US must be handled in the context of national security, but also bearing in mind issues of sovereignty. "There must be a balance between safeguarding our interests as a state and, at the same time, preserving complete autonomy in the decision-making process." "We do not want to lose any lives. We must grasp the lessons of the past and keep them in mind. We paid a heavy price in war. The best way to deal with the dangerous situation in Sinai is through construction and development, which are the greatest guarantees for protecting it. Certainly, there are pressures on Egypt to halt its development projects in the Sinai. Otherwise the Peace Canal project would not have been suspended." The current scramble among Gulf states to purchase arms in response to a possible Iranian threat is another cause for concern. "There is an economic dimension to the arms race," says Khairallah. "The great powers thrive on concluding arms deals which only exacerbate the dangers." "Egypt harbours no animosity towards Iran or anyone else. Iran is an Islamic nation that could be used in the framework of the international balance of power." When he hits the campaign trail, the new presidential candidate will be promoting a 19-point platform. Economic development and reducing unemployment will top his agenda. "In the future we will have no option. We inhabit six per cent of Egypt's total land area. With a natural growth rate of 1.6 per cent our population will be 120 million in 2020, and by 2050 it will have risen to 162 million." Khairallah proposes developing the northern coast to support a population of 30 million and creating an agricultural development corridor stretching from the Qatara depression though the Western oases.
