Head of Egyptian military is unknown in the West, derided at home (WikiLeaks Cables Reveal)

[Turborama]

Source: CNN International

February 12, 2011 -- Updated 02:35 GMT

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Not much is known about Mohammed Hussein Tantawi in the West
* U.S. Embassy cables released by Wikileaks contain references to Tantawi
* Cables: Tantawi is "intolerant" of reform and is mocked openly by mid-level officers

Mohammed Hussein Tantawi is Egypt's deputy prime minister, defense minister and commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces. In the West, little is known about him, or how he intends to lead the Egyptian military, now that it's in charge of the government. Former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen knows Tantawi and worked with him at the Pentagon. He told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that "the question is whether he will continue to be the head of the military, as such, or whether that will pass on to a younger generation."

Tantawi, who holds the title "field marshal," received his first military commission in 1956, He was born on October 31, 1935, and fought in Egypt's 1956 war against Britain, France and Israel. He also served during Egypt's conflicts with Israel in 1967 and 1973. Tantawi was only recently made deputy prime minister. Former President Hosni Mubarak appointed him to the position during the early days of the protest movement that eventually forced Mubarak from power.

Since 1991, Tantawi has held the position of defense minister, wielding near-exclusive decision-making power within the ministry. However, during that time, "the tactical and operational readiness of the Egyptian Armed Forces has degraded," according to globalsecurity.org, a military analysis group.

U.S. Embassy cables released by Wikileaks contain multiple references to Tantawi, his relationship with former President Mubarak, and they way he is viewed by other Egyptian military officials.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/11/egypt.tantawi.profile/index.html

[rabs]

1. "Mubarak's poodle" will have to go

Thanks for posting this: from the link:

That cable's final assessment of Tantawi warned diplomats to "be prepared to meet an aged and change-resistant Tantawi. ... He and Mubarak are focused on regime stability and maintaining the status quo through the end of their time. They simply do not have the energy, inclination or world view to do anything differently."

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He, like Hosni, should just ride their camels off into the Sahara sunset

[OHdem10]

2. I think one of the younger Generals(his name escapes me)

is going to be heading up the Transition. Received
training in this country and is highly regarded.

[Turborama]

3. Al Jazeera English: Post-Mubarak era dawns on Egypt

People power has spoken in the biggest Arab nation just four weeks after Tunisians toppled their own ageing ruler.
Last Modified: 12 Feb 2011 05:56 GMT

=snip=

The top figure in Egypt is now Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, the country's defence minister and head of the supreme council.

In its third statement to the nation since Thursday, the council said in a televised address that it was examining the situation "in order to materialise the aspirations of our great nation".

The council spokesman said that "resolutions and statements regarding the ... actions to be followed" in order to achieve the demands of the people will be handed down later.

He also extended "greetings and appreciation" to Mubarak for his service to the country, and saluted the "martyrs and those who have fallen" during the protests.

Nezar al Sayyad, a Middle East specialist, told Al Jazeera that Egypt “is in a very critical stage in terms of what is going to happen next.”

Full article: http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/02/201121253441731292.html