According to the cable, Mr Tantawi, who has previously served as the Egyptian Defence Attache to Pakistan, also pointedly noted that "any country where the military became engaged in ‘internal affairs’ was ‘doomed to have lots of problems.’"

This is Mr. Field Marshal Tantawi, military ruler of Egypt, who ousted the President, former Air Chief Marshal Mubarak. Mubarak succeeded President Colonel Sadat, successor of Colonel Abdul-Nasser, successor of General Neguib.