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The Muslim Brotherhood homepage on Wednesday played up the phone conversation between U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Neither the timing of the call nor the editorial decision to quote Sissi's promise to act decisively to keep Sinai from becoming a threat to Israel were accidental. The talk, in which Panetta promised continued American military cooperation with Cairo, including aid for military procurement, came as the Iranian president was trying to win the hearts of the Brotherhood and of ordinary Egyptians. During his visit to the country, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad even promised to defend Egypt and Saudi Arabia against any attack.