Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian Salafi politician Hisham Kamal, which aired on Mehwar TV on September 13, 2012.

bHisham Kamal: The president should not just summon the US ambassador and hand her an official complaint. Egypt should first expel her, and only then negotiate with the US.

America understands nothing but force. The US trembled with fear as a result of the demonstrations opposite its embassy, because it understands nothing but force.

Our strength lies in preserving our identity and what is sacred to us. Standing up to defend something as holy as the Prophet Muhammad, whom we should never allow to be attacked, strengthens our standing throughout the world, and forces all the countries to take us into account.

This does not mean the severing of ties with countries other than the US. It is the US that constantly hopes to maintain ties with Egypt. It should not be vice versa.

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