AHMED HUSSEIN—ARAB FUEHRER
HAVING had these indications of how Egypt treated the stranger, I warily began my investigation of Ahmed Hussein, fuehrer of the fanatic Green Shirts, more formally known as Misr el Fattat, the Young Egypt Party. I was sure I could meet Hussein by posing as a friend of those he knew in the United States. I knew Hussein's background. During the war he had been placed in custody for pro-Fascist sympathies.
In 1942, with Rommel and his Afrika Korps hammering at El Alamein, one of Hussein's colleagues, a Green Shirt leader, led street demonstrations, screaming at the top of his voice: “Advance, Rommel. Please, Rommel, come quickly to Egypt.”
Before the war Hussein had visited Italy, toured Fascist youth camps, and returned tremendously impressed. He also went to Germany, but got a cool reception. He then wrote a pamphlet, “Message to Hitler!” inviting Hitler to achieve peace of soul by embracing Islam, “the religion of God's unity and of solidarity, the religion of order and leadership.”
In New York some of Hussein's writings were distributed by Habib Katibah (the same Katibah whom Shawa Bey in London asked me if I knew), who was frequently seen with Hussein when the latter visited the United States in 1947. Katibah's background is revealing. He had founded the Arab National League, a propaganda agency which received the endorsement of World Service, the notorious Nazi propaganda mill, for its efforts in “spreading the truth.” Another founder, Dr. George Kheiralla, received assurances from James Wheeler-Hill, once Bund national secretary: “Our own organization will work with you 100% and do whatever possible to assist you."
After Pearl Harbor the League was dissolved, but in 1945 Katibah suddenly reappeared on the letterhead of the streamlined Institute of Arab American Affairs, listing on its advisory board such prominent Americans as Kermit Roosevelt, Virginia C. Gildersleeve, dean emeritus, Barnard College; and William E. Hocking, professor emeritus, Harvard University. After a while Katibah's name disappeared from the letterhead, and was replaced by that of Khalil Totah as executive director. Katibah, however, remained very much on the scene...