Showing posts with label EGYPTIAN MILITARY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EGYPTIAN MILITARY. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

PENTAGON OFFICIALS HOPE FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN MILITARY/ GOVERNMENT IN EGYPT

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
U.S. Hopes Egyptian Civilian, Military Leaders Work Together
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2012 - U.S. defense officials were expecting Egypt's new president to name his own defense team and hope civilian and military leaders can work together to address the country's problems, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi announced yesterday that the head of military intelligence, Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi, would replace Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi as defense minister and leader of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. The council effectively led Egypt after last year's fall of President Hosni Mubarak until Morsi took office in June.

Morsi is the first democratically elected leader in Egypt's history.

The president also replaced army chief of staff Gen. Sami Hafez Anan and the leaders of the navy, air force and air defense branch.

"It's important for both the military and civilians leaders in Egypt to work together to address the economic and security challenges facing that country," Little said. "We had expected President Morsi to coordinate changes in the military leadership. The United States and the Department of Defense, in particular, look forward to continuing a very close relationship with the [Supreme Council of the Armed Forces]."

U.S. officials know General Sisi, Little said. "He comes from within the ranks of the SCAF, and we believe we will be able to continue the strong partnership that we have with Egypt," he added.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has not spoken to the new defense minister, "but looks forward to doing so at the earliest possible moment," Little said.

Egyptian officials said the 76-year old Tantawi retired, but would continue to serve as a presidential advisor.

Monday, June 25, 2012

U.S. SEC. OF DEFENSE PANETTA COMMENDS EGYPTIAN MILITARY

Photo Credit:  Wikimedia.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Panetta Commends Egyptian Military for Supporting Elections

By Cheryl Pellerin
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2012 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta commends Egyptian Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, the country's top military officer, and his staff for supporting a secure, free and fair election in Egypt, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.
Egypt's election commission announced June 24 that Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi won the presidential runoff over Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister under deposed leader Hosni Mubarak.

Little said the secretary placed two phone calls to Tantawi, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, late last week to express his desire for the Egyptian military to support a free and fair election, "and that's precisely what occurred."

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke this morning with his Egyptian counterpart, Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Enan, Little added.

"The tenor of all these discussions has been to express a desire to encourage the Egyptian military to support the democratic process," the press secretary said, "and we've seen what's occurred in Egypt."

Egypt has an enduring role as a security partner and leader in promoting regional stability, "and we look forward to working with the new government on a host of issues," Little told reporters last week.


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