Word: nasserism
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Moscow Message. Most disturbing of all, the Soviet Union gave an added edge to the Middle East crisis by hinting that unless the Western powers curb the Israelis, Moscow may increase its arms shipments to the Arabs. Gamal Abdel Nasser's undeclared war of attrition against Israel has backfired badly. Instead of turning the Suez into a "sea of blood," Nasser has egged Israel into sending its commandos deep into the Nile valley and its bombers right up to the gates of the Egyptian capital. In alarm, Nasser turned to his Soviet sponsors for help, and Moscow obliged...
...their Soviet materiel, the Arabs have proved ineffectual. They have scored some successes since the war of attrition began last spring but they have paid dearly for every one. The Israelis, for instance, have systematically taken out the SA-2 surface-to-air missiles that the Russians gave Nasser and laid ruin to the radar system that was supposed to alert him to low-flying Israeli marauders...
...Arabs with hotter equipment-new MIG-23 "Foxbats" to replace destroyed MIG-21s or SA3 missiles in lieu of the SA-2s-is impractical. The Egyptians are scarcely able to handle what they have been given. In an unusually frank interview with U.S. Newsmen William Tuohy and Rowland Evans, Nasser admitted last week that "we have more planes than pilots." Nor is Moscow likely to order its own military advisers to expose themselves to danger by operating complex equipment under combat conditions. The Russians themselves have already suffered in Israel's attacks; in one incident last March, a number...
...Egyptian morale. In response to the raids, slit trenches are being dug around Cairo's airport; public buildings and monuments in the capital are being sandbagged, and a nighttime brownout is in effect. In recent weeks, army vacations were canceled and extra guards positioned around military installations. When Nasser dropped out of sight for several days, rumors swept Cairo that he had flown to Moscow to demand offensive weapons. The rumors were denied...
Remember how the French reluctantly confirmed that deal for the sale of some jet aircraft, maybe 15 or so, to Libya's new pro-Nasser regime? How Defense Minister Michel Debré later admitted that about 50 Mirage 5 ground-attack planes would actually be sold, but neglected to mention that 30 Mirage IIIE fighter-bombers and 20 Mirage III trainers were also included? How Debré grudgingly revealed two weeks ago that around 100 jets, rather than 50, were involved after all? And how, finally. Premier Jacques Chaban-Delmas soberly declared: "Our compatriots can be sure that...