Egyptians knew kidnapping of tourists was likely
The tourism minister of Egypt is attempting to minimize the kidnapping of 11 Italian, German and Romanian tourists. Minister Zoheir Garana has issued a statement stating "This is an act of banditry not of terrorism" because he knows this event could trigger a significant decline in their $8 billion a year industry.
The Egyptians know this has long been a real threat. I was in Egypt this summer and we took significant security measures. We had an armed guard escort everywhere we went. I have never seen such security measures in all my travels. We had 10 busses in a convoy that would not be separated. Every bus had a plain-clothes armed guard aboard. We were escorted by trucks of uniformed soldiers with side-arms and rifles. In between the buses were civilian trucks with uniformed soldiers with side-arms and rifles. The effort was coordinated by radios and a security lead so that all units were in communication. Yes, most of the tourists were Americans.
A ransom of $6 million has been demanded and the tourists are believed to have been taken across the border to Sudan. Suspiciously, the Egyptian owner of the travel company who organized this trip was also taken along with his drivers, guide and guard.
The BBC has reported the Egyptian military has been criticized for not doing enough to patrol the area despite the known increased threat. But Egypt is not a country that protects everyone’s rights and safety. A country that legally allows a man to brutally beat his wife and children to the point of broken bones, with no punishment unless there is a death, cannot be expected to protect the rights and safety of their visitors.
The Egyptians know this has long been a real threat. I was in Egypt this summer and we took significant security measures. We had an armed guard escort everywhere we went. I have never seen such security measures in all my travels. We had 10 busses in a convoy that would not be separated. Every bus had a plain-clothes armed guard aboard. We were escorted by trucks of uniformed soldiers with side-arms and rifles. In between the buses were civilian trucks with uniformed soldiers with side-arms and rifles. The effort was coordinated by radios and a security lead so that all units were in communication. Yes, most of the tourists were Americans.
A ransom of $6 million has been demanded and the tourists are believed to have been taken across the border to Sudan. Suspiciously, the Egyptian owner of the travel company who organized this trip was also taken along with his drivers, guide and guard.
The BBC has reported the Egyptian military has been criticized for not doing enough to patrol the area despite the known increased threat. But Egypt is not a country that protects everyone’s rights and safety. A country that legally allows a man to brutally beat his wife and children to the point of broken bones, with no punishment unless there is a death, cannot be expected to protect the rights and safety of their visitors.
Terrific piece, thanks. Can you clarify the second part in a little more detail please?
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As far as I remember this topic was already asked before.
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On network TV, I'm still Phoebe to people, and it would be hard to convince them otherwise in the bright lights of a sitcom.
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No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness.
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