THE SPIES AMONG US
NESSEEM
15.12.2010
LEAD-IN:
During 60s Egypt, Egyptian Gamal Abdel Nasser
led national sentiment to stand against Israel and all who
supported it, particularly the United States. Manar
Nesseem brings to light how the American University in
Cairo was dragged into the politics of the times in “The
Spies Among Us.”
(start w/music “Theme Song (Movie “Jaws”)” –
FADE IN) (:13 sec)
It was the dawn of the Cold War, and the
battleground was the Third World.
As the world was torn between the United States
and the Soviet Union, a thirty-year-old officer named
Gamal Abdel Nasser was to head the new republic,
Egypt. His charisma and charm electrified not only his
own people, but also developing countries at large.
(music “Gabar” – FADE IN at “a thirty-year-old
officer”) (:10 sec)
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ABDEL NASSER: “We celebrate with you today the
feast of evacuation, feast of freedom and feast of
dignity… Oh men! Everyone should hold his place!
You are all Gamal Abdel Nasser!”( – FADE IN at
“Gamal Abdel Nasser”) (:23 sec)
(music “Gabar” – FADE IN) (:48 sec)
Mark Twain’s popular line, about how it’s not the
size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the
dog, couldn’t ring truer in Abdel Nasser’s case.
In his fourteen-year rule, Nasser managed to
aggravate several Western countries and Israel into wars.
Asem El Ersh, who has been the editor in chief of
Al Ahram Weekly for the past five years, described
Egypt after it had lost the 1967 war against Israel. He
said that during the late 60s, national sentiment was
hostile towards Israel and all who supported it,
particularly the United States.
EL ERSH: “At that time, U.S. intervention was on
Israel’s side. They financed and supplied them, and
they pressured Egypt – perhaps one of the main
reasons for Egypt’s defeat in the 1967 war was the
role that the U.S. played.” (:18 sec)
2
(music “Habibiha” – FADE IN) (:24 sec)
The American University in Cairo, also known as
A-U-C, became entangled in public discourse by virtue
of it being an American institution, in a country that has
come to stand against America.
Although the general perception of A-U-C
fluctuated to suit the politics of the times, the university
had established a reputable image for itself that even
Abdel Nasser couldn’t ignore.
EL ERSH: “A-U-C was the only American
institution that continued to operate in Egypt in a
public manner, without any interruption. Actually,
A-U-C remained the few strings between the two
nations.” (:16 sec)
(music “Habibiha” – FADE IN) (:44 sec)
At such a critical position in its history, the
university faced accusations and conspiracies of being a
hotspot for U.S. intelligence gathering. El Ersh
speculated that Egyptian authorities presumably kept
their eyes open over A-U-C’s activities, as well as those
of other foreign institutions.
3
A former national intelligence agent, who shall remain
anonymous for security reasons, verified that they did
closely monitor such institutions, including A-U-C.
FAROUK: “We can say it was a target like other
places. We monitored what the students said, what
the professors said, and the research coming from
this university. These things, we can say, that we try
to know what these people are doing in our country
and what they are saying. That’s his reason, he
tried to control any information going to the CIA or
USA through the American University in Cairo.”
(:29 sec)
(music “Habibiha” – FADE IN) (:58 sec)
Another former agent said that ofcourse the State,
being in the midst of war, had to gather information
about the activities of all foreign institutions in Egypt.
“It is impossible,” he said, “for anyone to find out
whether there is a classified file regarding any covert
spying on A-U-C, unless it becomes published
information.”
4
Having worked for the national intelligence agency
for over three decades, he commented that the
government was naturally cautious of foreign presence,
yet most likely did not single A-U-C out.
In true Cold War style, it was the perception of AU-C being an American byproduct that put the
patriotism of its professors, students and administration
under a cloud of suspicion.
(music “Watany Habibi” – FADE IN) (:45 sec)
“The Spies Among Us” is an A-U-C Radio
Production, by Turn On, Turn In, Drop Out Radio.
Special thanks to the following names that have
contributed to the production of this documentary: Noha
El Taher - Asem El Ersh - Moustafa Samy - Zahra
Ahmed - Mohamed Nesseem - Professor Kim Fox Newspaper Al Ahram Weekly.
This has been Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out Radio.
Thank you for listening.
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