The Armed Forces Will Move Forward on Their Path, No Matter the Difficulties and No Matter the Sacrifice, Until the Goals and Ideals Are Achieved

Translated by Menna Tarek

Reviewed by Mariam Essa

My brothers:

This assembly, which brings together officers representing the armed forces, holds great significance that pushes us into the future. When we are assembled, we affirm our commitment to the revolution and its principles and affirm the full and full awareness that drives us to unity, solidarity, and cohesion until the goals of this revolution are achieved.

Today, when we are assembled after this incident, I am confident that this meeting is nothing but an affirmation from the armed forces to follow this revolution, protect it, and adhere to its goals.

We are assembled to declare with all our hearts that the army that vowed to itself on July 23 to come out to protect the people from exploitation and tyranny will not allow them to return to the homeland again, and we will not back down from our goals until we eliminate the effects of exploitation and every force that wants to threaten the revolution.

Today, when we are assembled after witnessing the imminent danger, we declare that what happened was not merely an attempt on one man's life, nor was it a political crime against Gamal Abdel Nasser, but rather a betrayal of the homeland, the nation, the aims, and the revolution. No one could ever have thought that the weapons collected by the Brotherhood and the secret formations and organizations were intended against Gamal Abdel Nasser, but they were intended against you first and the people of the homeland second. We cannot say that this is a political crime or an individual assassination, but rather it is a betrayal of this country and this revolution. 

This betrayal would have established what this revolution had destroyed; it would have established exploitation, tyranny, reactionary rule, and corruption.

I know that enlightenment has spread throughout hearts, and I know that the armed forces will continue on their path, no matter the difficulties and no matter the sacrifice required, until our goals and ideals are achieved. We know that we will not achieve them unless we establish a healthy democratic life and establish social justice among the people of this country.

May God's peace and mercy be upon you.

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President Gamal Abdel Nasser's speech at an iftar banquet held in his honor by the Border Force on December 6, 1954.