Sisi’s October 6 speech celebrates Armed Forces, warns of future dangers

In his speech commemorating the October 6 War, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has highlighted the strength of the Armed Forces and how Egypt must remain secure, unlike its neighboring countries.

The president stated that the army is the champion of the Egyptian people and would not stand against the people’s interests, reported state-run newspaper Al-Ahram. Sisi went on to say that Egypt is witnessing a similar time to that of 1967, when Egypt was defeated by Israel, emphasizing how difficult the present days are and how Egypt must maintain its security.

“We are vigilant and ready so that it [the 1967 defeat by Israel] will not happen again,” the president said.

Sisi continued by emphasizing that the Egyptian people must pay attention to what happens outside of Egypt and ensure that the country remains secure.

“All we need to do is look to the countries around Egypt and the devastation their people are exposed to, while in our country, God willing, through the consciousness, endurance, dedication and work of Egyptians that will not happen,” Sisi said. 

This warning echoes recent controversial statements made by television personality Reham Saeed, who took the opportunity of handing out clothes in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon to warn Egyptians of what happens when their country is not secure. In the clip Saeed says, “These are the people who are dispossessed, who are divided and are ruined. This is the fate of people whose country is destroyed.” 

Sisi also used his speech to address previous comments he made on the Constitution in mid-September. At the time Sisi said, “The Constitution gave the parliament broad powers with good intentions. But the country cannot be run on good intentions.

Sisi's supporters then latched on to the comment to lobby for constitutional changes, which would limit the power of the parliament.

Sisi explained in his October 6 speech that the people should take what he said about "good intentions" with a pinch of salt.

“I am participating with you, I am considering with you, but I don’t want you to treat me as though I have the power, it’s not like that,” the president said. “I am one of you. I don’t want you to lose confidence in the words I’ve said, but the new parliament will have an important and serious role because we need to pass many laws and legislation.”