As the military celebrated the anniversary of Sinai's liberation, the head of the ruling Armed Forces addressed friends and foes alike, Amirah Ibrahim reports A dispute over gas exports to Israel developed into threats by Israeli officials which were summarily dismissed by the Egyptian military. As the backdrop, head of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sami Anan attended two major exercises held this week in Sinai carried out by the Second and Third Armies. The games were 150 minutes each and troops staged a number of mock battles across the open desert in the depths of the Sinai Peninsula, some 100 kilometres from Ismailia. Battalions of armoured vehicles, tanks, air defence units, commandos and paratroopers took part in the manoeuvres, as did a number of the most advanced air force fighter jets. The exercises marked the anniversary of Sinai's liberation on 25 April, celebrated as a national holiday every year. On Saturday, the Third Army held its military exercise codenamed Badr 2 or Full Moon. According to Major General Sidki Sobhi, commander of the Third Army, the exercise was part of annual military manoeuvres staged by the army. "We held Badr 1 in January," stated Sobhi. He insisted that none of the military exercises scheduled for the Third Army had been cancelled or delayed. "This exercise sends a message to the Egyptian people who deserve all the love and respect, regardless of those who are disloyal and suspect every one and every thing. The message is that your Armed Forces are well prepared and are paying attention to their main tasks which are to defend and protect the country." Sobhi explained that the troops entrusted with safeguarding the public were not part of the fighting units. "We are sure how far the people trust the army, but this exercise helps mobilise the soldiers who keep training and training and will only be satisfied with their preparations through comprehensive manoeuvres," Sobhi added. On Monday, the Second Army held extensive live fire battles codenamed Nasr 7 or Victory. According to Mohamed Hegazi, commander of the Second Army, the games consisted of three phases -- between 15-18 April, on 22 April and the final phase on Tuesday. On Israeli threats following the decision on Sunday by Egypt to scrap a gas deal with Israel, Hegazi said, "The Second Army, as part of the Armed Forces, will reply with extreme force to any threat across the Eastern border line, who ever makes them. This is a message to those who are threatening to reconsider their calculations before targeting our borders and troops by any hostile attack. We are capable of securing the eastern borders, well equipped, prepared, trained and first and foremost our soldiers have strong self-confidence defending their country and their honour," Hegazi told the media. According to Hegazi, two committees from parliament visited the military points in Arish and were satisfied by the military preparations to secure the borders. Hegazi indicated the exercises in Sinai were conducted under full control and supervision of the Egyptian Armed Forces. He dismissed claims that Israeli approvals were requested beforehand. "This is an Egyptian exercise by Egyptian troops over Egyptian land. No one would dare interfere. MFO troops monitor both sides, not only the Egyptian side, and this part of the peace accord has nothing to do with normal military exercises," Hegazi added. "You have given a terrific performance using your weapons and equipment," Tantawi then told the troops. "I want every one of you to pay more attention to his weapon and be more careful in maintaining it," Tantawi stated. "Egypt is passing through a difficult time with regards to economic conditions. We don't have the luxury of trashing old weapons and buying new ones�ê� you know your weapons are equipped with the most advanced components that your enemy would have. "I want you as well to watch out for what is being cooked underground against the army. We recognise why some would call to reduce the volume of the Egyptian army or to switch its mission from defending the country against hostile acts on the borders to fighting terrorism via claims that Egypt has no enemies after signing the peace treaty. This is the voice of defeat and loss. Look how things are going across the eastern borders and what can happen. You should cut the throat of anyone inside or outside who adopts such calls." Tantawi added that the Egyptian army had always had a mission to defend the nation, not to assault or raid other nations. "Yet, we are ready to break the bones and cripple those who dare to come closer to our border than they should." To make sure the messages were received and understood, a number of parliament members, representing Sinai's two governorates, Northern Sinai and Southern Sinai, as well as the Suez Canal's three governorates, Ismailia, Port Said and Suez, were invited to the military exercises on Saturday and Monday, along with members of the parliament's Defence and National Security Committee. Dozens of university students were invited as well. At Agroud near Suez, Tantawi asserted to troops that "those who tend to insult the army and underestimate the great job it had been doing were a few" but said he was confident the army cares about the people and country and thus would not reply. "We are capable of hitting with an iron fist, but will not. We will hand over power to a civil authority elected by the people, and Egypt will have a new constitution written by all Egyptians." Tantawi asserted the army will never give up its commitment towards helping rebuild the economy which he said had been damaged badly over the past year and earlier. "By law and the constitution, the Armed Forces are committed in times of peace to use its facilities and equipment to contribute to development plans. We will expand our projects as far as we can, not only in the southern Eastern Owinat area, but also in the Delta and Sinai." Tantawi said that the achievement of the Armed Forces following the 25 January Revolution will be marked not just by history "but that the present will have a word of truth to say. "Egyptians are free people, who will never be forced to do anything against their will," Tantawi added. Replying to those who insisted Egypt should have cut ties with the US following recent rows, Tantawi asked: "Why should I make enemies while I can benefit from them? We will continue with cooperation as long as they do not interfere in our internal affairs. But he who wants to be an enemy will certainly regret it as our forces are ready to reply strongly," he added. At Om Qamara, the theatre of the second army exercise on Monday, Tantawi's comments appeared more aggressive. He warned political forces against pushing the army into politics which he said aimed at damaging the military. "We have never been involved in politics, neither in the near future or farther. Attempts by political forces to push the army with or against them will certainly ruin our honourable military. But I want them to hear this: it will be 'over our dead bodies'. Our slogan is 'victory or martyrdom'". Tantawi told the troops to follow their commanders, ignore critics and "only believe how they are blessed by God and supported by all the Egyptian people to go on with the historic responsibility to save the future of the nation." He morally mobilised the troops, recalling conflicts in recent history "when the army wrote its honourable record. "In 1956, when the Tripartite Aggression led by Britain, France and Israel, plotted against Egypt, the people did not give up and fought the battle to the end. Following the 1967 defeat, the late president Gamal Abdel-Nasser stepped down after he recognised he was the real target of Western governments which helped Israel. But the people again had their say, and refused. Later on the people fought and achieved the 1973 victory." To a request by a Sinai parliamentary member to allow Bedouins to own their land, Tantawi asked the MP to alert his people not to sell land to non-Egyptians. "Sinai is a very special area. We cannot allow selling the land we sacrificed our sons and brothers for long years, and then regret it." He added that Sinai inhabitants should help rebuild new police forces and stop hostile acts against policemen. "You should revive the positive role your sheikhs used to play and help smooth out communication with the government." Tantawi blamed parliamentary members for insulting the army. "Those who insult the military in parliament aim to break the army. You are representing the whole people, including army officers and soldiers and thus you are obliged to defend them and stop such insults," Tantawi told parliamentary members attending the exercise. When the MPs said the insults were made by only "a few", Tantawi retorted: "Well, cut the throat of such few. The troops do not relax and keep training to ensure the safety of the people and the country, and they deserve to be highly appreciated." Tantawi asserted the SCAF would never use military force against the people or allow the killing of any Egyptian by the army. "The troops are responsible for protecting society but are incapable of using force because it means killing their people. History will never write it that way. We will stand by our people till they are safe and stable. I am not a politician, not a president. Ruling the country is like a fireball but we accepted the responsibility as it is our national duty."
