In the next recording, Gens. Kamel, Shahin, and El-Gindy are heard discussing the newly built hanger turned prison facility (min. 23-31) at the Abu Qir naval base. When El-Gindy stated that the facility was now ready to be turned over to the interior ministry, Shahin jokingly intimated, "It's ready for us" (i.e. to be our prison when the military rule is ousted). El-Gindy responded by saying that it was unsuitable for them since it was only a 3-star rather than a 7-star facility (min. 23). El-Gindy then proceeded by saying that the new facility matched the one where Morsi was detained in all its details including "chairs, beds, appliances, refrigerators, washers, and the garage." He then added, "It's the same as the original from A to Z -- even the sports equipment is the same. We even left the newspapers of that period in the cells." Kamel then jokingly commented (min. 25) that such immaculate details "would drive the man (Morsi) crazy." Shahin then stated (min. 26) that "he arranged with the head of the prison system to send 3 or 4 prisoners there to show that the facility had always been in use." When the prisons chief asked why not house more prisoners Shahin responded by saying "Hell no. Do you want to expose us? This facility is supposed to be a special prison for only a limited number of prisoners." Kamel then said that he would inform interior minister Ibrahim "to send his security people to take over the facility" and that there is "a tacit agreement (with the prosecutors) to receive early warning before an actual inspection takes place" in order to get the facility "ready." He then assures them that the prison guards would have already been "briefed and trained" so as not to be uncovered. Finally, Shahin instructed that "all the record books must be cooked with proper dates and names of visitors including the visits by the African leaders (to Morsi in his early days of detention) as well as by a delegation from Egypt's human rights organization, etc." Kamel then assured them that "Lt. Gen. Tariq has been working on this with interior ministry officials."
When wolves are guarding the sheep
These revelations clearly demonstrate that Egypt is currently being ruled by a criminal enterprise masquerading as patriotic military generals or statesmen. Since the July 2013 coup thousands of Egyptians have been killed in the streets while at least forty thousand have been arrested, jailed and tortured. In essence, the coup was a counterrevolutionary movement led by the military generals and elements of Mubarak's deep state that eventually resulted not only in the acquittal of the former dictator and his cronies but also in thwarting Egypt's path towards freedom and democracy.
More than forty years ago, Nixon told the American public that he was not a crook, only to be shamed nine months later and admit that indeed he had violated the law and had to resign. But the military generals in Cairo are not only crooks by their own admission, but also murderers, thugs, and psychopaths. There are no parliament, judiciary, or viable civil society institutions in Egypt to hold them accountable. Meanwhile, the international community is looking the other way while Egypt descends into turmoil and chaos, and most Egyptians face unprecedented repression and corruption on a massive scale. During the 18 momentous revolutionary days in the spring of 2011, many Egyptians believed that the military generals stood with them against the tyranny and decadence of the Mubarak regime, and declared in Tahrir Square and across Egypt that "the people and the army are one." Four years later most Egyptians who yearn to be free openly declare "no to military rule" and understand now more than ever that freedom and democracy cannot be bestowed by any one group but must be taken by the people themselves.
Esam Al-Amin is the author of The Arab Awakening Unveiled: Understanding Transformations and Revolutions in the Middle East.
Reprinted from counterpunch.org
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