As president of Egypt in the 1960’s Gamal Abdul Nasser was determined to modernize and improve people standard and living. Arab socialism promise a new era for some of the middle east disadvantage people. But as well as reforming Egypt, Nasser kept tight hold on the reigns of power.
He imprisoned political opponents, censored the media and manipulated elections. But middle east was a powder keg waiting to blow. Nasser Egypt jostled for position in both the Arab world and in a strategic world that was maintained in an edgy stalemate by the cold war super powers.
By declaring Egypt as normal line, Nasser attempted to play the soviets off against the Americans, breaking in billions of soviets dollars in the infra structure development and military aid that both the USSR and the United States were concerned that Egypt antagonism towards Israel. In 1958, Egypt and Syria had declared a united Arab republic but the dream of Arab unity founded when Syria pulled out of the union in 1961, following the military coup. The president also became embroiled in a costing military exercise in 1962 when he sent troops to Yemen against the advice of his ambassador.
Nasser expected to be a quick victory against pro-seventy forces, however three years later troop commitment has escalated from 5,000 to fifty five thousand soldiers. And Nasser’s standing in the Arab world was severely diminished. To regain some respect Nasser acted on a warning form the Soviet Union that Israel was preparing to attack Syria. And re-militarized the Sinai the strip of dessert between Israel and Egypt.
He coordinated the multi prompt the Arab attack on Israel involved in Egypt, Jordan and Syria. However a pre-emptied strike by Israel’s air force on the 5th of June 1967 destroyed almost all of Egypt’s bombers and fighter jets while they were still sitting on the tarmac. The Israelis also defeated Egypt on the Sinai and the Gaza strip and easily accounted for Jordan and Syria. By the end of the war, Israel had seized the Gaza strip golden heights, the Sinai Peninsula and the west bank, including east Jerusalem, tripling its territory.
Nasser was humiliated and resigned the presidency. The whole war took less than a week and re percussion form the six day war had still being felt in the middle east today. Nasser swiftly launched the war of attrition in an attempt to win back the Sinai. For three years hostilities drag on the USSR and the United States closely involved, both in supplying arms and trying to end the conflict.
On August 7th 1970 a seize fire was reached. Less than two months later Nasser died of a heart attack following a meeting of the Arab leaders to discuss Israel. More than five million people attended his funeral the largest in history. Nasser left a mixed legacy he modernized Egypt, reformed education and re-work pride in Arab culture and achievements but Nasser is too highly dependant on soviet aide to be sustainable, so since the USSR collapse, Egypt’s struggled economically. And Israel’s relationship with the Arab world remains on a knife edge.
Driven by tension over territory taken by Israel during the six day war, however Nasser place on history is assured. Modern day Nasserites had redefined his political objectives and replaced the authoritarianism with democracy. There is no doubt that whatever his faults and they were many Nasser wanted what was best for his people.
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