So I learned later that the Soviets had withdrawn their claim to be paid in full and in hard currency. Payment was to be on the old basis. But I still do not know for certain what passed between Sadat and the Soviet leaders. I would judge, however, that the Soviet Union agreed to the shipments to preserve its position in advance of the Nixon-BrezhnevSummit scheduled for May 20 in Moscow. In return, I am fairly sure, Sadat told them that the greatest obstacle to Egyptian-Soviet relations was General Sadiq and promised to dismiss him at the first opportune moment. 

That was not the day's only demonstration of how our politicians operate. To celebrate the deal there was a flying display by MIG-25s and SU-17s at one of our air bases, after which Sadat decorated Grechko with our Star of Honor and Marshal Kotakov, the Soviet Air Force Commander who accompanied Grechko , with the Military Star. Then a communiqué was issued claiming that Egypt now possessed an aircraft capable of flying at an altitude of 15 miles and a speed of almost 2,000 miles per hour, and that we now also had long-range fighter-bombers.
 
 

 That was not the day's only demonstration of how our politicians operate. To celebrate the deal there was a flying display by MIG-25s and SU-17s at one of our air bases, after which Sadat decorated Grechko with our Star of Honor and Marshal Kotakov, the Soviet Air Force Commander who accompanied Grechko, with the Military Star. Then a communiqué was issued claiming that Egypt now possessed an aircraft capable of flying at an altitude of 15 miles and a speed of almost 2,000 miles per hour, and that we now also had long-range fighter-bombers.

None of it was true. The MIG-25 had that performance; and the Soviet Union had four based in Egypt. But they had neither offered it for sale to us nor indicated that it would be. Whenever we broached the question they deflected us: "Why bother yourselves? The aircraft is already on your soil and being used for our joint benefit." (The MIG-25 was more advanced than any Israel or the United States possessed in service; so I assume the Soviets reckoned that its sale to Egypt would be a security risk and would step up the arms race in the area.) As for the boasted "long-range fighter bombers," I asked our new Air Force Commander, General Mubarak.

Reading the communiqué, I wondered who it was designed to deceive? Not the Americans or Israelis. With their advanced surveillance the United States would soon learn what we had. If they chose, the communiqué merely gave them the excuse to supply Israel with yet more sophisticated weapons, leaving Egypt still further behind. The only people deceived were the Egyptians and their Arab comrades. And the only beneficiaries the Soviets, who would reap prestige from the lies.

The mission started at 1000 hours; it was completed by 1035 hours. Two enemy Phantoms vainly rose to intercept from al-Miliys air base in the center of Sinai, and two more climbed from Ra’s Nasraniy air base. But the AmericanSPARROW air-to-air missiles the Phantoms fired had no chance of catching the MIG. One spent missile from the Miliys flight glided to earth west of the canal and our troops recovered it.

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