The Pasha clearly had in mind the idea of creating a conscript army in which the soldiers would be firmly dominated by their officers. He once told a distinguished French visitor, "I have not done in Egypt except what the British are doing in India; they have an army composed of Indians and ruled by British officers, and I have an army composed of Arabs ruled by Turkish officers . . . The Turk makes a better officer, since he knows that he is entitled to rule, while the Arab feels that the Turk is better than him in that respect." He added, however, that he was determined to forbid these Turkish-speaking immigrants from legally acquiring land in Egypt and "from becoming proprietors and creating for themselves a personal leverage over the population."

XREF: Directly mirrors the earlier highlight at loc 1306 already claiming this same proposition. Builds on: "Ibrahim reconsidered universal conscription to preserve experienced soldiers."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 1327