Every place I visited, I was informed of the respect people have for Egypt and for President Mubarak. Tantawi held talks with Cohen and other military officials as well as congressmen and senators. Talks focused on military aid, industrialisation, joint exercises and modernisation of the Egyptian armed forces. The US officials are convinced that the strength of Egypt is vital to the stability of the region and the whole world. We view the American readiness to provide us with the Patriot missiles as a good indicator.
Military industrialisation is certain to continue and develop in the near future.
Tantawi explained that responding to Egypt's military requirements takes some time because it has to be approved by the US Congress. While in Washington, Tantawi visited a number of military training centres. Tantawi and General Henry Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reviewed preparations for joint military exercise, called Bright Star, to be held in Egypt next October. He described the joint training programme as the most important in the Middle East. With the participation of 11 Arab and European countries, and the participation for the first time of 35 countries as military observers, Bright Star is definitely one of the greatest military exercises ever.