By Samir Sobhi Some memories are like water under the bridge; they disappear with time. Others, such as those of 1967, refuse to go away. Yes, we have picked up the pieces. Yes, we have sorted out our lives, sent the children to schools, and generally did what we had to do. But there has always been a haunting feeling that things could have been different. So I have gone over the headlines of 40 years back, just to revisit those dramatic moments that changed history forever. Here is how Al-Ahram recounted the events as they took place: On 1 January 1967, Al-Ahram editor-in-chief Mohamed Hassanein Heikal wrote an article entitled "Landmarks of 1967". In that article, he said that the United Arab Republic -- Egypt's name at the time -- was playing a growing role in the world, one that compels it to react to events that happen around it. On 15 May 1967, a headline declares, "Hostilities may break out on the Syrian-Israeli front at any time". On 16 May 1967, "Full mobilisation declared in the armed forces of the United Arab Republic". On 17 May 1967, "Cairo demands the withdrawal of the UN Emergency Force from Sinai". On 18 May 1967, a large photograph of troops departing to Sinai appears on the front page. On 21 May 1967, "Abdel-Hakim Amer with troops in frontline positions", and "U Thant [secretary-general of the UN at the time] flies to Cairo to meet Abdel-Nasser". On 22 May 1967, "The coming few hours are crucial". On 23 May 1967, "Abdel-Nasser orders closure of the Gulf of Aqaba". On 25 May 1967, "U Thant spends four hours with Abdel-Nasser". On 26 May 1967, "The US demands that Egypt rejected". On 28 May 1967, "Cairo demands the departure of the Canadian battalion within 48 hours". On 29 May 1967, "Abdel-Nasser speaks to the world". On 30 May 1967, "Military skirmishes in land, sea and air". On 31 May 1967, a banner declares, "Joint defence agreement between President Abdel-Nasser and King Hussein [of Jordan] yesterday in Cairo". On 1 June 1967, "Johnson [then-US president) leads a campaign of military, political, economic, and psychological warfare against us." On 2 June 1967, "Any country trying to force its way into the Gulf of Aqaba would be prevented from crossing the Suez Canal". On 3 June 1967, "A silent coup in Israel brings about a war cabinet". On 4 June 1967, "The military alone speaks now in Israel". On 5 June 1967, "Iraq joins the Joint Defence Treaty between Egypt and Jordan," and "Zakaria Mohieddin flies in two days to Washington for talks with US President Johnson". On 6 June 1967, "Fierce battles on all fronts with the enemy," and "Zakaria Mohieddin's visit to Washington postponed". That was when Heikal called a meeting with the central desk and some reporters. He put his hand in the pocket of his light grey suit and told us with confidence that everything would come back, God willing: "They have seized land and will give it back," he said. But they are likely to keep Jerusalem, he admitted. Then we started getting the news agency reports. The censor got busy removing any news telling what actually happened. The nation turned to the BBC radio, trying to find out what happened through the crackly static that went on increasing day by day. On 10 June 1967, "Abdel-Nasser decides to step down". The banner ran with a picture of Abdel-Nasser reading his memorable statement. Back in the newsroom, silence and shock. Some reporters were weeping. Outside on Sherif Street, crowds started gathering. On 11 June 1967, a large photograph of the demonstrations calling on Abdel-Nasser to stay in office adorns the front page. A banner declares, "Under overwhelming popular pressure, Abdel-Nasser postpones his decision to step down". On 19 June 1967, "A new ministry under Abdel-Nasser". In the following weeks, the drama continued. One banner declares: "Abdel-Hakim Amer committed suicide", posted along with a picture of the late army chief. Three years later, another chapter of the drama unfolds: On 29 September 1970, "Abdel-Nasser passes away", and "Al-Sadat speaks to the Arab nation". On 4 October 1970, a headline urges the nation, "Go back to work, for the love of Abdel-Nasser and of the homeland". The nation obliges. Had Zakaria Mohieddin made it to Washington before the war, I still wonder, would things have been different?
