Suleiman A Brief Biography

(split out into its own thread as requested for easier reading)

Suleiman rose through the ranks of the military and transferred across to Military Intelligence where he was seen as a very capable yet ruthless officer. By 1986 he became Deputy Head of Egyptian Military Intelligence, after a spectacular career that had seen him thwart many threats against the nation. He was a particular specialist in monitoring of Israeli activities and particularly that of the the regime of Saddam Hussein.

By 1991 he had risen to the role of Director of Military Intelligence and was pivotal in providing significant HumInt (Human Intelligence) to the US Military as a precursor to Operation Desert Storm in Iraq. It was also Suleiman who persuaded the President of Egypt to send an Egyptian force into the coalition against Saddam, fearing that if Saddam was left unchecked he would be a danger to Egyptian interests in the region.

By 1993 with the successes of Desert Storm to his credit he was promoted to be the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Services, overseeing both civil and military intelligence becoming the spy chief for the entire Egyptian apparatus. In 1995, after following up on a tip off that a threat would be made to the life of Hosni Mubarak on a visit to Ethiopia, Suleiman doubled the guard and had Mubarak ride in an armoured car. An attempt was made on Mubarak but the armour ensured that he suffered no injury. This cemented the close friendship between the two.

Since that date Suleiman has been playing a careful multi-handed game, working closely with US Intelligence, allies in the region who are suspicious of the USA and Israel. He became a secret go-between in relations between the Arab countries and Israel and recently has brokered deals with Hamas. He is regarded as the third most powerful spy chief in the world after the head of the CIA and the head of British MI6 and is without doubt regarded as having the finest network of field agents in the Middle East theatre.

Egypt has long feared Al Qaeda attacks on its soil, and we musnt forget that the AQ Deputy Zawahiri is in fact an Egyptian citizen. As part of this concern Suleiman has built a massive network of agents devoted to hunting down AQ operatives. After 911, Suleiman agreed to share all of this intelligence in real-time with both the CIA and MI6.

As a reciprocal part of that deal, under the US rendition program, various Al Qaeda figures were sent across to Egypt for questioning. The CIA had written assurances that torture would not be used, but various CIA officers and memos reveal that this assurance was not adhered to.

In fact, with key suspects some agents have put it on record that Suleiman himself would not only approve torture but actually personally conduct it. His specialities are said to be electric shock treatment to genitalia and the breaking of fingers with pliers. This is still officially denied.

Low grade AQ members are reported to have been shot in the presence of suspects at such close range that their blood has drenched the AQ operative under interrogation as a further stimulus to talk to save their own lives. Again, this is not officially recognised, but there is significant anecdotal evidence that appears to confirm this.

As for what Suleiman knows about AQ itself. He has a vast wealth of information after many years of study of the group and in many ways his knowledge exceeds that of the CIA and MI6. In fact, he has been used as something of an encyclopedia on the subject. If you want to know something in the Middle East, give Suleiman a call is a regular refrain in intelligence circles.

In a strange quirk of fate, this man, regarded as odious by western intelligence agencies has provided details of many plots which have saved lives in the US and Europe and as such his methods have been tolerated rather than approved of by the western intel community

When we were following the Egypt thread tonight JediJaney, Babsi said that she believed Mubarak started out as a good President. From what I have read about him I felt this very strongly too.
Do you think that Silimans close involvement with Mubarak especially after the attempted assassination of him slowly corrupted him?

Is Suleiman going to remain part of the Egyptian Supreme Military Council? Those group of Generals that will be taking over the country?

Dead Revolutionary wrote:Is Suleiman going to remain part of the Egyptian Supreme Military Council? Those group of Generals that will be taking over the country?

Yes Id like to know what he is upto.

Wouldnt want him to disappear with a trial