Tahseen Bashir
Encyclopedia
Tahseen Bashir, {or: Tahsin Basheer}, Egypt
ian diplomat
(April 1925 – June 11, 2002). Bashir served as both a confidant and spokesman for several Egyptian presidents, including Gamal Nasser and Anwar Sadat
. In 1977 Bashir was appointed Egypt's ambassador to the Arab League
, and later he served as ambassador to Canada
until 1985.
He coined several memorable political phrases. Regarding his belief in the centrality of Egypt within the Middle East
he opined: "Egypt is the only nation-state in the Arab world; the rest are just tribes with flags".
When asked why Egyptian Pres. Mubarak
had not made more changes in his cabinet, Bashir remarked: "Because their tombs weren't ready." Bashir viewed Pres. Mubarak’s listless, gentrified advisors as: "The mummification of the Egyptian cabinet". Bashir wrote a critique of Pres. Mubarak’s under-performing economic policies titled: "I Support You but I Do Not Endorse You" in a September 1992 issue of Al Wafd newspaper.
His first wife was Sana Hasan, who eventually moved to Israel
, and wrote Enemy in the Promised Land (1988) which described her experiences there; they later divorced. His second wife was long-time intimate, Laila Ibrahim Basmy, whom he married barely a month before his death. (Source: “Tahseen Bashir, Urbane Egyptian Diplomat, Dies at 77”, Neil MacFarquhar, The New York Times newspaper, June 14, 2002.)
Two book title take-offs on his 'flag
' quote are Tribes With Flags: A Dangerous Passage Through the Chaos of the Middle East (Apr. 1990) and Tribes With Flags: A Journey Curtailed (1992) both by Charles Glass
.
[Another version of Bashir’s ‘flag’ quip is: “ 'When the chips are down, there is only one real place in the entire area – Egypt,' a Cairo
diplomat once declared. 'All the rest – forgive me – are tribes with flags.' ” (Source: Baghdad Without A Map (Jan. 1992) by Tony Horwitz, p. 51.)]
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
(April 1925 – June 11, 2002). Bashir served as both a confidant and spokesman for several Egyptian presidents, including Gamal Nasser and Anwar Sadat
Anwar Sadat
Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat was the third President of Egypt, serving from 15 October 1970 until his assassination by fundamentalist army officers on 6 October 1981...
. In 1977 Bashir was appointed Egypt's ambassador to the Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
, and later he served as ambassador to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
until 1985.
He coined several memorable political phrases. Regarding his belief in the centrality of Egypt within the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
he opined: "Egypt is the only nation-state in the Arab world; the rest are just tribes with flags".
When asked why Egyptian Pres. Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
had not made more changes in his cabinet, Bashir remarked: "Because their tombs weren't ready." Bashir viewed Pres. Mubarak’s listless, gentrified advisors as: "The mummification of the Egyptian cabinet". Bashir wrote a critique of Pres. Mubarak’s under-performing economic policies titled: "I Support You but I Do Not Endorse You" in a September 1992 issue of Al Wafd newspaper.
His first wife was Sana Hasan, who eventually moved to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and wrote Enemy in the Promised Land (1988) which described her experiences there; they later divorced. His second wife was long-time intimate, Laila Ibrahim Basmy, whom he married barely a month before his death. (Source: “Tahseen Bashir, Urbane Egyptian Diplomat, Dies at 77”, Neil MacFarquhar, The New York Times newspaper, June 14, 2002.)
Two book title take-offs on his 'flag
Tribes With Flags
"Tribes With Flags" is part of a phrase attributed to Tahseen Bashir, an Egyptian diplomat . Regarding his belief in the centrality of Egypt within the Middle East he opined: "Egypt is the only nation-state in the Arab world; the rest are just tribes with flags".Another version of Mr...
' quote are Tribes With Flags: A Dangerous Passage Through the Chaos of the Middle East (Apr. 1990) and Tribes With Flags: A Journey Curtailed (1992) both by Charles Glass
Charles Glass
Charles Glass is an American author, journalist, and broadcaster specializing in the Middle East. He writes regularly for The Spectator, was ABC News chief Middle East correspondent from 1983–93, and has worked as a correspondent for Newsweek and The Observer...
.
[Another version of Bashir’s ‘flag’ quip is: “ 'When the chips are down, there is only one real place in the entire area – Egypt,' a Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
diplomat once declared. 'All the rest – forgive me – are tribes with flags.' ” (Source: Baghdad Without A Map (Jan. 1992) by Tony Horwitz, p. 51.)]