New Bombings

[john75]

Just heard that 50 people have been killed in a new bombing attack at a beach resort where British people are on holiday only heard half of it on the radio.

[Mannginger]

Yup - Egypt:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4709491.stm

BBC said:

Dozens killed in Egyptian blasts TV image from Sharm el-Sheikh The explosions took place in the early hours of Saturday At least 49 people have been killed and more than 130 wounded in a string of bomb attacks in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The first explosion took place in the Old Market area, popular with tourists. At least two more blasts followed in the busy Naama Bay area, where a car bomb tore off the front of the four-star Ghazala Gardens hotel. Britons, Dutch, Qataris, Kuwaitis and Egyptians were among those killed and wounded, police sources said. Police sources said there had been at least three car bombs. Earlier reports had suggested there were up to seven explosions. I saw a car flying up in the air, people running Yehya Mohammed restaurant owner The blasts came within minutes of each other, shortly after 0100 local time (2200 GMT), when the bars and markets were busy with tourists. In Naama Bay, there were explosions outside the Ghazala Gardens and Moevenpick hotels. TV pictures showed heavy damage to the Ghazala Gardens hotel, with parts of the building burned out and walls collapsed. 'Shrapnel everywhere' One witness, Fabio Besone, who was at the nearby Hard Rock Cafe, said there were scenes of panic, with people running to get away. "There was shrapnel everywhere, the front of the hotel had been completely blown away, a couple of bodies lying down on the front of the road - I have no idea if they were alive or severely injured," he told the BBC. In the Old Market area, 17 people - believed to be Egyptian workers - were killed as they gathered at a street cafe, rescue officials said. "I saw a car flying up in the air, people running," restaurant owner Yehya Mohammed told Reuters. "I do not think I will ever forget this in my life. This is a horrible setback for tourism here." The Sharm el-Sheikh area is popular with tourists from Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Europe. This is the height of the summer tourist season. Last October, 34 people died in car and truck bombs at Red Sea resorts on the eastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula. Those bombings were the first major attack in Egypt since 58 tourists were killed in the town of Luxor in 1997.

A mate of mine said he was off to Egypt for a hol - so I've just sent him a text to satisfy myself that he hasn't gone just yet, or if he has that he was in a different area.

Phil

[John75]

Below is details of the number for those concerned about friends and relatives in the bombings to phone

Contact Details: Address: British Embassy
7 Ahmed Ragheb Street
Garden City
Cairo

Telephone: (20) (2) 794 0852
(20) (2) 794 0850
(20) (2) 794 0858

[Mannginger]

Just heard back from mate - he hasn't left yet so that's all good.

Phil

[rich1231]

There can be no justification for this, ever. But there will be posts here late blaming us and our foreign policy.

[Donut]

rich1231 said:

There can be no justification for this, ever. But there will be posts here late blaming us and our foreign policy.

This scum will use any excuse, like the London bombings these fooked up little brain dead pieces of satans poo will do it regardless of Iraq or any other issue or policy..........

Shoot them all IMHO they don't deserve air!!

[peterpeter]

rich1231 said:

There can be no justification for this, ever. But there will be posts here late blaming us and our foreign policy.

no the posts arent blaming us.
we didnt detonate the bombs,

but if we think that our whiter than white foreign policy hasnt made these affairs worse and increased the number of recruits willing to do this, (as Blair so clearly does) then we are ed

with all due respect rich, you admitted that iraq was all about oil.

i admired you for your honesty, but told you not to be surprised when they start flying planes into our buildings.

wake up people, this is wildly political.
religion is being used to help recruitment and divide.

[fishtek69]

I was on holiday in the area concerned in May, and marvelled at how wonderfully peaceful and safe the place seemed. Seems odd to look at the footage on telly and see the same places in such a state.

My father, his partner and her 11-year-old daughter were due to start their holiday in Naama bay next Sunday (after hearing such glowing reports from me). I've now adviced them to get to the travel agents today and arrange for an alternative destination - the place is gonna be a bloody mess for a while now, and I don't think it's a great holiday destination for an 11-year-old girl.

I feel sick that so many innocent people are caught up in these attacks. The people of Naama Bay (and the Egyptians in general) seemed so friendly and made every effort to make the holidaymakers (on whom they depend) feel welcome. They don't deserve to get caught up in such nonsense, just as much as the holidaymakers don't.

To be honest, I'm really starting to worry about the direction of recent world events. I'm generally a very optimistic person, but it's hard given the currect political/religious (?!?) climate.

[scorp]

Donut said:

rich1231 said: There can be no justification for this, ever. But there will be posts here late blaming us and our foreign policy. This scum will use any excuse, like the London bombings these fooked up little brain dead pieces of satans poo will do it regardless of Iraq or any other issue or policy.......... Shoot them all IMHO they don't deserve air!!

Thats funny, throughout my 26 years of life, i only remember islamic terrorists attacking us recently. I guess they must have been bombing us all the time, and our foreign policy is completely unrelated to current events.

[968]

scorp said:

Thats funny, throughout my 26 years of life, i only remember islamic terrorists attacking us recently. I guess they must have been bombing us all the time, and our foreign policy is completely unrelated to current events.

You are right, but in the case of Egypt, it is far more complex than all of this. Yes, our foreign policy has placed us in grave danger, and the governments denial of this, is simply pathetic.

However, Egypt has a long and bloody history of political violence, after all it has a President, who has ruled for many many years, with no democratic mandate (but is a friend of the US). He is allowed to rule because he suppresses the activities of religious extremists, but this violent suppression has bred more violent extremists.

No, there is no justification for targetting these innocent people. But we have to examine why this violent and extreme form of Islam is finding such favour amongst these people. Why has the Wahabbi movement gained such popularity?

[ZR1cliff]

What a shame,i went to Sharm el-Sheikh about 4 years back and had a fantastic holiday,you can play spot the cloud there and a couple of times while i was there tempratures reached 50 degrees,the area has had heavy finance from the Italians and is very favourable with divers.

[wedg1e]

The sooner the West finds a way to avoid relying on Arab oil the better. Without the income from that, they'll be back to running around the desert and nicking each others' camels in no time.
Once the last white man leaves, the lights will go out and they'll never come back on.

[968]

wedg1e said:

The sooner the West finds a way to avoid relying on Arab oil the better. Without the income from that, they'll be back to running around the desert and nicking each others' camels in no time. Once the last white man leaves, the lights will go out and they'll never come back on.

Not sure it's that simple mate. I think there is one factor you are overlooking, ie Israel, which all our foreign policy is based upon. I heard a good phrase once, 'we are being sacrificed upon the altar of Israel'

[wedg1e]

968 said:

wedg1e said: The sooner the West finds a way to avoid relying on Arab oil the better. Without the income from that, they'll be back to running around the desert and nicking each others' camels in no time. Once the last white man leaves, the lights will go out and they'll never come back on. Not sure it's that simple mate. I think there is one factor you are overlooking, ie Israel, which all our foreign policy is based upon. I heard a good phrase once, 'we are being sacrificed upon the altar of Israel'

Of all the Mid-Eastern states, Israel is probably the best able (technologically) to defend itself. Once all their neighbours are back in tent city shagging goats, they'll be top dog...

[968]

wedg1e said:

Of all the Mid-Eastern states, Israel is probably the best able (technologically) to defend itself. Once all their neighbours are back in tent city shagging goats, they'll be top dog...

Unnecessary racial slur apart, I agree Israel has a well funded and trained army, BUT if they are so able, why do they need $2bn or more in aid every year from the US?

[wedg1e]

968 said:

wedg1e said: Of all the Mid-Eastern states, Israel is probably the best able (technologically) to defend itself. Once all their neighbours are back in tent city shagging goats, they'll be top dog... Unnecessary racial slur apart, I agree Israel has a well funded and trained army, BUT if they are so able, why do they need $2bn or more in aid every year from the US?

Err... because Saudi et al also gets sackloads of cash from the West, albeit in return for oil. Without that, they'd all be on a more equal footing. However I don't see Jordan, Kuwait or any of the others having the ability to match the Israeli armaments industry or determination in short order. Once upon a time Russia would have taken sides, but I think they have enough problems of their own... and isn't it funny how much oilfield development work is going on in the former Russian states these days, involving Western companies.
Don't forget that it's little over 100 years since the whole Arab area was a third world backwater; we made it what it is. It wouldn't take much to undo it.

[mojocvh]

968 said:

wedg1e said: Of all the Mid-Eastern states, Israel is probably the best able (technologically) to defend itself. Once all their neighbours are back in tent city shagging goats, they'll be top dog... Unnecessary racial slur apart, I agree Israel has a well funded and trained army, BUT if they are so able, why do they need $2bn or more in aid every year from the US?

Because they don't have an economy as such to support the vast amount (GNP wise) that they need to defend themselves.
As they are seen as a "democracy" in the mid east they are supported thus.
Personally IMO (and this will no doubt attact criticism here) Israeli society needs to sort itself out in the first place before any real hope of lasting peace can be expected (starting with their Prime Minister).MoJo.

[968]

[quote=wedg1e]


Err... because Saudi et al also gets sackloads of cash from the West, albeit in return for oil. Without that, they'd all be on a more equal footing. However I don't see Jordan, Kuwait or any of the others having the ability to match the Israeli armaments industry or determination in short order. quote]

Nice and simplistic. I think you are describing the revolutionary concept called 'trade' which is what made Saudi Arabia fabulously wealthy.

No none of the countries you listed could match Israel, as Israel has been armed to the teeth each year and funded heavily and trained by the US, therefore they have a much better fighting force.

However a number of Gulf countries can see the writing on the wall as far as oil is concerned and are trying to diversify, with tourism, with commerce, with biotechnology and finance, and I think they will become strong economies in time, as they have a great deal of capital to invest.

[funkihamsta]

Regarding whether this is an attack on the Western way of life or a more targetted attack on USA and its stooge allies..

as one guy said "You don't see them bombing Sweden do you?"

Pretty much summed it up for me.

[vixen1700]

Bomb blast in Spain a little while ago too.