In Paper, Chief of Egypt Army Criticized U.S.

Source: The New York Times

As a student at the United States Army War College in Pennsylvania, the chief of staff of Egypt's armed forces argued in a paper that the American military presence in the Middle East and its "one-sided" support of Israel were fueling hatred toward the United States and miring it in an unwinnable global war with Islamist militants.

The paper, written seven years ago by Gen. Sedky Sobhi, offers an early and expansive look into the thinking of one member of the new generation of military officers stepping into power as part of a leadership shake-up under Egypt's newly elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.

His sharp rebuke of American policy is especially striking because he now oversees the military institution that has been the closest United States ally in the Arab world, relied on by American officials as a critical bulwark in support of Israeli security and against Iranian influence. Despite decades of military collaboration, he urged a full pullout of American forces from the region.

Read more: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/world/middleeast/in-paper-chief-of-egypt-army-criticized-us.xml