Omar Suleiman sworn in as VP

I understand from TV coverage from Cairo that MG (Ret.) Omar Suleiman, head or former head of the General Intelligence Directorate (not police), has been sworn in as vice president of the country in a televised ceremony.

I think this is a significant development that probably indicates that President Mubarak is preparing to leave.  He has not had a vice president, probably not wishing to appoint someone who might be an obstacle to the succession of his son, Gamal.

Suleiman was a career combat arms officer of the Egyptian Arrmy who was appointed as a major general to be head of Egyptian military intelligence.  I came to know him well when he served in that capacity for several years.  He is an intelligent, worldly man who is also a pious Muslim of the old school.  He is respected in Egypt as an honest man.  He has carried out many difficult assignments for Egypt and is well thought of in international circles.  Like Mubarak, Sadat and Nasser he became an officer through the efforts of the royal government to bring ordinary Egyptians into the officer corps.  There were special schools for that. Their existence dates back to the 19th century when there were a substantial number of American officers serving in the Egyptian Army.  They advocated creation of these schools.  He is a son of the lower middle class and not a product of the oligarchy.  After retirment from the army he became head of Egyptian civilian intelligence.  He is described as a confident of Mubarak.  I think that is an exageration as he has often been subjected to the whims of Mubarak who loved to play his senior officials off against each other.

He is quite elderly.  If he succeeds to the preisdency, I feel sure that he will see himself as an interim figure.  The National Assembly would probably declare him to be interim president.  pl 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Egypt#Succession

 

Comments

[Leanderthal]

Col INTP

I'm hoping Al Baradei will emerge as the next leader in Egypt and perhaps Suleiman is the guy to work with him to get Egypt "out of this mess". "Virgin" as a label is extreme as "torturer" is on the other end of the spectrum. We can only hope that realism will be recognized as essential to solving the problem, and that takes guts and brains. Your positive assessment of Suleiman, and his evident availability, is likely to be a part of recognizing the reality on the ground, as long as he resists backing his long time patron, Mubarak. A tall order.

Leanderthal, INTJ