Via the BBC: Egypt’s army chief warns of ‘state collapse’ amid crisis
"The continuing conflict between political forces and their differences concerning the management of the country could lead to a collapse of the state and threaten future generations," Gen Sisi, who is also Egypt’s defence minister, said.
He said the economic, political and social challenges facing Egypt represented "a real threat to the security of Egypt and the cohesiveness of the Egyptian state".
The military deployment along the Suez Canal was meant only to protect the key shipping route, one of Egypt’s main sources of foreign revenue, and described the army as "a pillar of the state’s foundations", he added.
His comments were made in an address to army cadets which were subsequently posted on the military’s official Facebook page.
Now, on the one hand one does not want to read too much into a given statement. However, on the other, when the highest ranking military officer makes such statements, especially in a country with as political active a military as Egypt’s, one ought to pay attention.
After all: the institution of the state fundamentally charged with stopping its collapse is the military.
Side note: is Facebook a pervasive medium or what? Its global significance continues to fascinate.
