PROLOGUE

February 28^th, 1922

 

After three years of armed rebellion, Egypt gained its independence from Britain. As a condition of independence, the British maintained the right to defend international interests in Egypt, namely, the Suez Canal Company. The company was owned by British and French investors. It operated the canal and collected tolls from passing ships. None of the revenue went to Egypt, one of the poorest countries in the world.

As industry grew and oil was developed in the Middle East, the Suez Canal became more crucial to European countries rebuilding from the devastation of World War II. To keep the vital passage open the British established the world’s largest military base in the Suez Canal Zone. Eighty-eight thousand British troops were station on Egyptian soil. The base exceeded the ten thousand troop limit allowed by the 1922 agreement. The Egyptians objected to the British intrusion and demanded that the British leave. Britain ignored them and Europe turned a blind eye.

 

Then came Nasser…