Anwar El Sadat and the Art of the Possible: A Look at the Yom Kippur War
Abstract
In September of 1970, Anwar el Sadat found himself in a precarious position as he assumed the presidency of Egypt. In the 1967 War, the Israelis successfully executed a preemptive attack that defeated the Egyptian army and seized large parts of the Sinai and the Suez Canal, greatly humiliating the Egyptians. The Egyptian people expected solutions, and many among the military and public were critical of Sadat's leadership. With his country on the verge of bankruptcy, Sadat had to find a way out of the 'no-peace, no-war' stalemate that had trapped his country since the end of the 1967 War. By the summer of 1972, despite his best efforts, time was running out. Sadat knew that he would be ousted unless he could find solutions. In response, Sadat developed a comprehensive, coherent strategy that skillfully employed all the elements of statecraft to create a favorable international environment that would resolve his difficulties and secure his political power.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA441681
Entities
People
- Cosmas R. Spofford
- Warren L. Henderson
Organizations
- National War College