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The following excerpts are from an interview with Muhammad Basyuni, former Egyptian ambassador to Israel, which aired on Al-Azhari TV on May 3, 2010.
Interviewer: The latest Israeli invention is the accusation that Syria is smuggling Scud missiles to Hizbullah, in order to threaten Israeli security. This is really peculiar. What’s your take on this? Is it true that Syria has smuggled Scud missiles to Lebanon?
Muhammad Basyuni: Let me tell you something about Scud missiles. I was in Israel when Saddam Hussein launched 39 Scud missiles at it. Do you know how many casualties there were?
Interviewer: Thousands, I am sure.
Muhammad Basyuni: One.
Interviewer: By God... How many missiles did you say?
Muhammad Basyuni: 39 missiles.
Interviewer: And there was only one casualty?!
Muhammad Basyuni: There was only one casualty caused directly by a missile.
Interviewer: He probably died of anxiety.
Muhammad Basyuni: No, five people died of anxiety. Some people died while putting on the gas mask.
Interviewer: So they died of anxiety?
Muhammad Basyuni: Yes, the missiles make a loud noise. About five people didn’t open the mask’s filter, and they choked to death. Only one died from a direct hit of a missile to his bedroom while he was asleep.
Interviewer: He ran out of luck...
Muhammad Basyuni: Exactly. The Israelis made the so-called “sealed room.” There had to be such a sealed room in every home, because they were afraid that Saddam would attack them with chemical missiles. So they prepared sealed rooms. In each apartment, they sealed a room with cellotape.
Interviewer: Sealed like a vault.
Muhammad Basyuni: Right. People who had a bomb shelter would go there, and they also sealed it, in case of a gas attack...
Interviewer: “They will not fight you except from fortified townships, or from behind walls. Strong is the adversity among themselves.”
Muhammad Basyuni: Exactly. When the alarm was sounded, everyone would run into the sealed room. His Royal Highness preferred to stay in bed. Unfortunately for him, the missile landed in his bedroom.
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I have my own view about how Iran should be dealt with. I always say that Iran is by no means a friendly country. Iran is not a friendly country due to our ideological differences. However, there is no need to turn Iran into an enemy.
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