Former Algerian Air force officer: I taught Hosni Mubarek how to wake up early in Algeria

The former colonel “Si Fodhil” was the first Algerian aviator who landed on the western wing of Cairo airport during the war against Israel in 1967, in addition of being the superior of the current president Hosni Mubarek while this one was assigned a mission to the southern part of Algeria in 1968.

• In a wide –ranging interview, the war veteran denounces the late reaction of the revolutionary family in the wake of the latest Egyptian campaign against Algeria and discloses several thrilling historical facts that he witnessed in 1967.
• Q: You were the first aviator who landed at Cairo airport in 1967 , but on account of a mere football match the Egyptians went beyond all limits in their insults against the Algerian government and symbols, sullying event the memory of our martyrs… How does the colonel deal with that?
• A: if they think that the latest gestures of appeasement would let us forget their base attacks, they get it wrong because we will never forgive their insults against our martyrs as long as we live. As to my own experience with the Egyptians, it goes back to the year 1967 when I discovered their flaws and noticed that some of them not all of course have nothing to do with bravery, their slogans “Peace and civilization” were simple illusion to hide their cowardice.
• Q: We feel you disappointed do you regret your commitment in the 1967 war?
• A: No at all… what we did was for Palestine and Islam and because as Algerians we do not accept despotism we couldn’t afford not to stand by the oppressed Egyptian people; we were always at the frontlines when it deals with protecting the Arab symbols and we do not expect anything in return, but…
• Q: What happened exactly when you landed at Cairo airport?
• A: I was the first to land on the west wing of the airport; there wasn’t a control tower and was an easy target for the Egyptian army owing to the lack of guiding lights because they fled and left the airport empty. The tarmac was full of wholes and was forced to fill the gaps on my own awaiting the landing of my fellow aviators. I have to mention that we didn’t meet a single Egyptian aviator over 10 days our mission was to stand by them and uplift their spirits but they were busy at the frontiers attending “Oum Kaltoum” concert while the Israeli army was  carrying out its military action.
• Q: We’ve been told that you knew Hosni Mubarek very well and was his superior during his military mission in Algeria?
• A: I met him in Algeria; more precisely in one of the southern military bases in 1968. I remember that the Egyptian commander in chief at that time paid a visit to Algeria and thanked us for our effective collaboration in the 1967 war.
• Q: How did you deal with Hosni Mubarek , knowing that you had the same rank then but was acting under orders?
• A: (He laughs…) I’m quite certain that the president Hosni Mubarek would recognize me at first the sight of my picture on your newspaper because he will not forget me especially that I taught him a lesson that apparently he didn’t grasp. The proof is that he didn’t wake up early during the match Algeria versus Egypt in Khartum. It seems that the jet lag between Egypt and Algeria is still ( hours, according to Mubarek’s timetable, and will remain such after failing to understand the 1968 course. I surprised him lying on the bed at 10 am and slammed the table.
• Q: can you elaborate?
• A:  I woke up at 5 in the morning as usual and flew over the sky in an inspection visit; after landing we did a briefing and moved to the control tower to supervise the other flights. At around 10.30, I went to the restaurant to take a cup of coffee, there I saw an Egyptian carrying a plate full of toasts and coffee so I asked him” Where?, he replied “ This is for M Hosni. I went with him to his room and found him lying on the bed wearing a dressing gown; there I lost my temper and slammed the table and ordered him to join me by two minutes. Because I’m “Berber” I had to use a translator since I don’t master the Egyptian dialect and told him “ thousands kilometres separate us from Israel and but we wake up at 5 am while you are located few kilometres far from them and you sleep till noon”.
• Q: What was his reaction?
• A: I think that he informed his superiors since the Egyptian military attaché, colonel Hassen paid a visit to our base and wanted to know the facts. When he knew what happened, he addressed Hosni Mubarek ( who was standing) saying “ From now on, you are under the order of Mister , mentioning my name,”.