October 09, 2004
THREE BOMBS, THIRTY-THREE DEAD
Tom Gara, an Australian in Egypt, reports on the Sinai terrorist attacks:
Most media reports on the bombings are presenting them as being focussed on Israeli tourists. This underestimates how severe the casualties will be for Egyptian tourists - as this was the 6 October long weekend, pretty much every middle class travelling Egyptian went somewhere this weekend - Sinai being a particular favourite. Right now Egyptian television is saying 33 dead, majority Egyptians with 10+ Israelis. But take the opinion of Egyptian english language television with a grain of salt.
This is incredibly bad news for Egypt. It will cause a significant, significant drop in tourist numbers. After Suez Canal revenues, tourism is Egypt's number 2 earner of foreign exchange dollars. This is bad.
Tom promises updates in coming days.
Posted by Tim Blair at October 9, 2004 02:28 AMMy condolences to all the victims and their families, regardless of nationality.
I only hope the Egyptian government pulls their head out of their back pocket, and goes after the murdering terrorist pukes.
Posted by: The Real JeffS at October 9, 2004 at 03:13 AMThe Sinai Arabs are probably the nicest people in the Middle East. They are the "moderate Muslims" we keep hearing about and their killers knew this.
Posted by: Troy at October 9, 2004 at 03:26 AMI feel sorry for the innocent victims of the bombings, but I find it difficult to have much sympathy for Egypt as a whole. Like the Saudis, they've learned that the viper they nursed in their bosom will strike at them as at anyone.
Posted by: Rebecca at October 9, 2004 at 09:45 AMConnolly's humour was never my 'cup of tea' but I will never even watch him if it's the last thing on TV- what a moron
and to the Israelis and Sinai people our hearts are with you
TO Mr. Gara, its not that the media underestimate the effect on Egyptians, its just that they don't care about Arabs unless they can blame America.
Posted by: Sheriff at October 9, 2004 at 04:07 PM