Former Egyptian Presidential Candidate Hamadeen Sabahi: An Attack on Syria Is an Attack on Egypt

Following are excerpts from an interview with former Egyptian presidential candidate Hamadeen Sabahi, Leader of the Egyptian Salvation Front, which aired on Al-Nahar TV on August 28, 2013.

Hamadeen Sabahi: A strike on Syria would be a barbaric crime by the U.S. administration. If the U.S. attacks Syria, this will constitute an attack on the entire Arab nation.

Let me bring something to people's attention. If Egypt is going to be attacked, it will come from the north, from Syria. An attack on Syria is an attack on Egypt.

An American attack on Syria will repeat the tragedy of Iraq.

Interviewer: What should Egypt's position be?

Hamadeen Sabahi: The Egyptian government and people must stand firm against the American and Western aggression against the Northern Region of [the union of] Egypt and Syria, which used to form the United Arab Republic.

On the popular level, Egyptians need to be clear. We will not accept American aggression against Syria. An American attack on Syria will not liberate the Syrians from oppression and dictatorship. It will destroy Syria and will turn it into… Such aggression will not be successful, Allah willing.

But if we say, for the sake of argument, that it will succeed – the state that would be established under American auspices and in the service of the Zionist enemy would become a breeding ground for terrorists, who would kill in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

We cannot allow such a danger to our national security. Today, defending Syria is tantamount to defending Egypt.

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