Egypt: Confidential "National Security" Dialogue Goes Viral in Egypt

Once upon a time a confidential dialogue between President Mohamed Mursi and politicians on a national security issue was aired live without prior notice to the participants or the public.

On Monday, Mursi met with political figures and experts to discuss a report on the effects of a dam which Ethiopia plans to erect on the Nile River.

With the Nile River being Egypt’s main source of water, panic has spread since Ethiopia’s announcement last week, as well as criticism of the Mursi administration for the perceived failing to handle the situation.

In the meeting, Mursi’s aide for political affairs, Pakinam al-Sharkawy, described the issue as “a national security issue that is related to the life vein: the Nile River.”

“We can leak [false] news information, claiming that Egypt plans to buy more aircraft to increase its air navigation, etc, to put pressure, even if not realistic, and affect diplomatic discourse,” Ghad Party leader Ayman Nour said in the meeting.

One attendee suggested a military airstrike while another proposed that Egypt threatens Ethiopia, Mohamed Anwar al-Sadat, who on his part suggested that Egypt stirs strife between the different tribes, told a local newspaper.

Head of the Salafi Nour Party Younes Makhyoun suggested supporting minorities in Ethiopia to pressure the Ethiopian government, cooperating with the Egyptian intelligence to demolish the dam if it poses danger to Egypt or forming a committee of experts.

Another politician asked the participants to pledge that they would not leak the information that is being discussed in this confidential dialogue – not knowing of course that he was on the air.

It was only then when that the president informed the attending politicians that they the dialogue was actually being aired live and nervous giggles echoed in the presidential palace’s meeting room.

Oops. The presidential aide forgot to inform political leaders that a national security discussion was being aired live.

“It was initially planned that today’s national meeting would be recorded, as is usually the case, but due to the significance of the water security issue, we decided at the last minute to air the meeting live,” Sharkawy posted on her Twitter account on Monday.

“I apologize for any unintended embarrassment felt by political leaders for not receiving notice of the national dialogue being aired live,” she added.

Perhaps this is a good reflection of the state of confusion and may be the lack of experience and poor planning of those on charge.

This was a golden opportunity for bloggers and twitter activists to grill on Mursi and his associates.

Prominent activist Nawara Negm mocked the discussions that were had in the dialogue, saying, “In all cases, we must fight the U.S. and Israel, and that the meeting is confidential, so it would be nice if everyone who watched it could pledge to not disclose the information.”

“Sincere apologies to the people and governments of Ethiopia & Sudan for the irresponsible utterances at the president’s “national dialogue”,” leading opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei posted on his Twitter account on Tuesday.