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| Africa: North |
| Many dead in Red Sea resort explosions |
| 2004-10-08 |
| Three explosions at Egyptian resorts near the border with Israel have reportedly killed at least 30 people. The main blast happened at the Hilton hotel in the town of Taba on the Sinai peninsula - a resort that is popular with Israeli tourists. The cause is unclear, but Israeli security sources say they believe it was a car bomb attack. Shortly afterwards two smaller explosions were reported in nearby towns of Ras al-Shitan and Nuweiba. Egyptian hospital officials said four people were killed there. An Egyptian government spokesman put the number of wounded in the Taba blast at more than 160. Israel's deputy defence minister Zeev Boim, who is in Taba, said it was too early to say who carried out the attacks. But he told reporters: "In my personal opinion it seems that it is more fitted to the international terror groups like al-Qaeda or some branches of al-Qaeda." According to Israeli media, 10 floors of the Hilton Hotel collapsed, trapping many people. The Egyptian authorities say there is no evidence of terrorism. Taba is the main crossing point between Israel and Egypt, and a major gateway for thousands of Israelis going on holiday to resorts and hotels on the Red Sea. Many holidaymakers would have been celebrating the last day of a Jewish holiday, Sukkot. Last month, the Israeli government urged its citizens not to visit Egypt, saying there had been a firm threat to tourists there. Israeli emergency teams are taking part in the rescue, and casualties are being treated in Taba and the nearby Israeli resort of Eilat. |
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |
| #8 well said, CM |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-10-09 7:01:36 AM |
| #7 Great post CM. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-10-08 4:55:55 PM |
| #6 N guard: The Luxor attack was late '90's. I believe up to 50 tourists were killed while getting off or on their buses. The time I was in Nuweiba was to celebrate Thanksgiving in '95. Beautiful beach and water. Took a bus up to Salahudin's Fortress, built on a small island several hundred yards off the coast just south of Taba. Well-preserved historic sight; kids loved it. Took the bus back to Nuweiba at night. Only time in my life I saw the outline of the dark side of a 3/4 moon, the air is so pure. I looked behind me and saw the lights of Taba, Eliat, and Aqaba. Saudi seemed to have turned off its lights, but I could see car headlights off to the east. Thought of Lawrence and how it must have looked to him. Electricity was humming and I thought if only these folks could work out their differences, a joint free port arrangement could be made, and other projects could be undertaken. The conventional wisdom at the time was to keep a lid on everything in the name of stability, but I now know stability wasn't the proper term. Putridness would have been correct. The only way out of the morass is to promote what W has undertaken in the region and what he will undertake if he's elected. Upset the apple cart, clean out the cesspool, and follow up. I read a Lawrence bio in which was printed a study sheet with a list of rules on how to interact with the natives that he created to be distributed to all British forces under his command. Most would be trite in today's situation, but one stuck out. It basically said that when your Arab leader and you have come to an agreement on a particular policy, you remind him of it everyday, pull out the paper and show him everyday, be willing to take the blame from his followers if it saves his face as he will be even more cooperative with you though perhaps not in public. So W, what you have promised for Iraq and the region, stick to it and remind the Arabs (Allawi) and other Muslim states (Musharef) of what the plan is. Our Left here and that of the rest of the developed world is scatterbrained, so don't worry about them. Do the simple stuff first and well, and the rest will follow. Remember to keep your pledges made to them too. We're at the precipice. Think Lincoln, Churchill, and Orwell when things seem dark. And don't forget those, your military on the ground, sea, and air who have demonstrated to you their resolve by sacrificing life and limb. Their losses cannot be in vain. |
| Posted by: chicago mike 2004-10-08 2:13:21 PM |
| #5 NYT phtoalbum. Registration is probably required. http://www.bugmenot.com/ |
| Posted by: ed 2004-10-08 11:23:09 AM |
| #4 Now, for some good news on -Insestfada-. See link. "How to use MS Excel to move needle on Symapathy Meter" |
| Posted by: Poison Reverse 2004-10-08 10:21:46 AM |
| #3 I recall reading somewhere that the tourism industry in egypt took a dive after the IJ/MB attack at Luxor in the 1980's? (help me out here) and that their economy still hasn't fully recovered from that. If Egypt's tourism sector is destroyed, the country can always fall back onto its high-technology sector to propel its economy forward. . Now lets be nice here... Hey Fred, I like the name generator. Jeamp Uluns sounds mongolian to me. |
| Posted by: N guard 2004-10-08 9:11:23 AM |
| #2 If Egypt's tourism sector is destroyed, the country can always fall back onto its high-technology sector to propel its economy forward. . |
| Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-10-08 8:43:29 AM |
| #1 Paul, the photo in the link almost looks like another 9-11. What other horrors have been planned by the 'peaceful ones'. |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-10-08 5:36:54 AM |