Why don't you guys comment on the posts that often? I would like to hear your feedback on this question.
The blog is going through some changes of appearance, please bear with me. (What do you think of the changes; better, worse...etc.? I'll keep changing it until you speak up:-)
Thanks.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Selling you the bridge
In Egypt there are organized land mafias whereby two persons sell each other a plot of land belonging to an absent third party; sort of like me selling you a bridge. With a loosely-knit legal system, bribery of local officials and cooperation of local Bedouins, this scheme actually works.
Doesn't this appear to you as strikingly similar to the peace agreement which Jordan signed with Israel? Long before Egypt signed its peace treaty with Israel, we heard stories of Jordan's co-operation with Israel, "collusion across the Jordan", and many other tales of the sort. So in essence, the King of Jordan took the opportunity of the commencement of Israel's Oslo agreements with the Palestinians to sign his country's formal peace treaty with Israel, where, at least symbolically, he would gain control over the West Bank and then proceed to concede it to the PLO.
Don't get me wrong; I am glad that Jordan made its peace with Israel, and I wish to see the day when the rest of the Arab-Israeli conflict would come to a peaceful end. But the humor of this whole affair just struck me right now, that's all.
Am I way off the mark with this allusion that I make?
Doesn't this appear to you as strikingly similar to the peace agreement which Jordan signed with Israel? Long before Egypt signed its peace treaty with Israel, we heard stories of Jordan's co-operation with Israel, "collusion across the Jordan", and many other tales of the sort. So in essence, the King of Jordan took the opportunity of the commencement of Israel's Oslo agreements with the Palestinians to sign his country's formal peace treaty with Israel, where, at least symbolically, he would gain control over the West Bank and then proceed to concede it to the PLO.
Don't get me wrong; I am glad that Jordan made its peace with Israel, and I wish to see the day when the rest of the Arab-Israeli conflict would come to a peaceful end. But the humor of this whole affair just struck me right now, that's all.
Am I way off the mark with this allusion that I make?
The black box
I received the following nice message this morning on occasion of the extraction the black box of the doomed Red Sea ferry: "Urgent: to every Egyptian: We should find the black box of Egypt." News of the tragedy awakened in many Egyptians an alarmed comparison between the sunken passenger ferry and the general state of Egypt.
Egypt crashed somewhere along the way. Crows scramble upon the Carcass. And yet the black box has not been found.
Is it deliberately being hidden by the perpetrators?...
Predestinely they have failed, I will tell them that.
Egypt crashed somewhere along the way. Crows scramble upon the Carcass. And yet the black box has not been found.
Is it deliberately being hidden by the perpetrators?...
Predestinely they have failed, I will tell them that.
Monday, February 20, 2006
I just had to link to this
Tomanbay informs us that our Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif explained the spread of the bird flu virus in Egypt by describing "in comic details how Egypt was prepared to defend itself against infected birds which were migrating from north to south, but was surprised to find out that the birds were in fact migrating from the south to the north!"
This is really funny because it reminds us of what the fascist buffoons who ruled Egypt in 1967 said after they provoked Israel into a war we weren't prepared for that led to the annihilation of over 80% of the Egyptian army in six days. They explained that they expected the Israeli airforce to attack them from the east, but instead it surprised them from the west! And the saddest part about this is that this scenario was but a repeat of their performance in 1956.
I hope Nazif was only joking, because they say he is a decent man.
This is really funny because it reminds us of what the fascist buffoons who ruled Egypt in 1967 said after they provoked Israel into a war we weren't prepared for that led to the annihilation of over 80% of the Egyptian army in six days. They explained that they expected the Israeli airforce to attack them from the east, but instead it surprised them from the west! And the saddest part about this is that this scenario was but a repeat of their performance in 1956.
I hope Nazif was only joking, because they say he is a decent man.
Check him for Bird Flu...
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Catching up with the Press
The ferry tragedy happened on a late Thursday, the Egyptian authorities decided to do something about it well into Friday, and The Egyptian Gazette enlightens us with this front-page headline the following Wednesday:
'Israeli navy had no part in rescue operations'
The governor of the Red Sea yesterday denied news reports claiming that the Israeli navy had taken part in the on-going operations to rescue survivors from Al Salam 98, which sank of Friday with 1,400 people on board.
All naval units involved in rescue operations are from Egypt, Arab and friendly countries, Bakr el-Rashidi told the Middle East News Agency (MENA).
This comes after we learned that they initially turned down offers from American and British warships to save the drowning human beings.
Dear Governor of the Red Sea,
The year is not 1962. We are now in 2006. We have signed a peace agreement with Israel over a quarter century ago that has since been mutually respected and beneficial to both sides...it is OK for its naval ships to save your fellow citizens if they happen to be drowning at sea.
Disgusted citizen
A note to our foreign readers:
The Egyptian people really aren't this stupid. Unfortunately our government is, evidently.
sigh...
'Israeli navy had no part in rescue operations'
The governor of the Red Sea yesterday denied news reports claiming that the Israeli navy had taken part in the on-going operations to rescue survivors from Al Salam 98, which sank of Friday with 1,400 people on board.
All naval units involved in rescue operations are from Egypt, Arab and friendly countries, Bakr el-Rashidi told the Middle East News Agency (MENA).
This comes after we learned that they initially turned down offers from American and British warships to save the drowning human beings.
Dear Governor of the Red Sea,
The year is not 1962. We are now in 2006. We have signed a peace agreement with Israel over a quarter century ago that has since been mutually respected and beneficial to both sides...it is OK for its naval ships to save your fellow citizens if they happen to be drowning at sea.
Disgusted citizen
A note to our foreign readers:
The Egyptian people really aren't this stupid. Unfortunately our government is, evidently.
sigh...
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Regime Change Hamas
I disagree with the assessment that regime change of Hamas would be a positive step to take. On the contrary, if such a plan were executed, it would be doing Hamas the biggest favor it could wish for at the moment. Here is why.
The election of Hamas leaves it with either one of two options; 1) Assume responsibility on behalf of the Palestinian people, or 2) Decline its elected responsibility. It can't take the second option, because that would make it look awfully childish and cause it to lose its credibility among the Palestinian electorate. So that leaves it with no choice but the first option, and it is not liking this particular corner very much.
The election of hard-line Hamas is a positive thing for the following reason: Now that you are elected leader of the Palestinian people, show us what you can do. Assuming responsibility on behalf of the Palestinian people in reality means being held responsible for its actions by the international community and its own people. No longer can it execute suicide bombings against Israel and get away with it; it will be held accountable as the government of Palestine, by Israel, the international community of nations and the clear majority of Palestinians who got them elected. So in reality, now that Hamas is in the forefront of Palestinian politics, one way or another it has no choice but to soften its positions towards Israel and deal with it (and de facto recognize it, whether it will choose to admit to this publicly or not), just as Fatah previously did.
This proposed move towards regime change on the other hand will give Hamas the perfect pretext for it to step down from its currently difficult position. Once again, it will escape being held responsible by anyone as it acts freely as the main power broker behind Palestinian politics, while it hides comfortably behind the government of Fatah. Contrast this to the first option where Hamas would have been cornered politically and left no choice but to reform its hard-line positions which have been a thorn in the back of the Middle East peace process for so long. Furthermore, in the event of a regime change it will only use this to gain more political ground with its hard-line supporters by pointing that the US and its allies evidently have no real desire for representative democracy.
The only necessary ingredient for this formula to succeed is for Egypt to maintain a far enough distance from the machinations of Palestinian politics in this coming period, so as not to give anyone a chance to blame Egyptian political pressure for the decisions made by the Palestinian parties. It must be made clear to all, most importantly to the Palestinian people themselves, that the decisions they have made were reached on their own. And it must be crystal clear that they - not their traditional scapegoat of Egypt - are responsible for the consequences of the decisions they make.
On this track, I think the Arab-Israeli conflict will soundly be on its way to be solved.
The election of Hamas leaves it with either one of two options; 1) Assume responsibility on behalf of the Palestinian people, or 2) Decline its elected responsibility. It can't take the second option, because that would make it look awfully childish and cause it to lose its credibility among the Palestinian electorate. So that leaves it with no choice but the first option, and it is not liking this particular corner very much.
The election of hard-line Hamas is a positive thing for the following reason: Now that you are elected leader of the Palestinian people, show us what you can do. Assuming responsibility on behalf of the Palestinian people in reality means being held responsible for its actions by the international community and its own people. No longer can it execute suicide bombings against Israel and get away with it; it will be held accountable as the government of Palestine, by Israel, the international community of nations and the clear majority of Palestinians who got them elected. So in reality, now that Hamas is in the forefront of Palestinian politics, one way or another it has no choice but to soften its positions towards Israel and deal with it (and de facto recognize it, whether it will choose to admit to this publicly or not), just as Fatah previously did.
This proposed move towards regime change on the other hand will give Hamas the perfect pretext for it to step down from its currently difficult position. Once again, it will escape being held responsible by anyone as it acts freely as the main power broker behind Palestinian politics, while it hides comfortably behind the government of Fatah. Contrast this to the first option where Hamas would have been cornered politically and left no choice but to reform its hard-line positions which have been a thorn in the back of the Middle East peace process for so long. Furthermore, in the event of a regime change it will only use this to gain more political ground with its hard-line supporters by pointing that the US and its allies evidently have no real desire for representative democracy.
The only necessary ingredient for this formula to succeed is for Egypt to maintain a far enough distance from the machinations of Palestinian politics in this coming period, so as not to give anyone a chance to blame Egyptian political pressure for the decisions made by the Palestinian parties. It must be made clear to all, most importantly to the Palestinian people themselves, that the decisions they have made were reached on their own. And it must be crystal clear that they - not their traditional scapegoat of Egypt - are responsible for the consequences of the decisions they make.
On this track, I think the Arab-Israeli conflict will soundly be on its way to be solved.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
The Pharaohs win the Cup
[Read the update to the previous post.]
Only when you see how bigger, stronger and faster the players of Cote d'Ivoire were than the Egyptian players, will you fully appreciate the feat of tact and determination that has been accomplished. All respect to the professionalism of coach Hassan Shehata and his team. People haven't been this happy since the 6th of October, 1973.
Only when you see how bigger, stronger and faster the players of Cote d'Ivoire were than the Egyptian players, will you fully appreciate the feat of tact and determination that has been accomplished. All respect to the professionalism of coach Hassan Shehata and his team. People haven't been this happy since the 6th of October, 1973.
Hero of the championship, Hassan Shihata.
They truly made Egypt happy. Mabrouk le Masr:)
Friday, February 10, 2006
Kosa we Batates...
I read in today's papers that Mido is scheduled to appear before the stadium before today's final match of the African footbal championship, so he can broadcast his apology to the coach and the Egyptian people for his shocking behaviour in the last game.
First of all, he does not really mean it because he previously apologized to the Egyptian fans while refusing to apologize to the coach. Secondly, even if he does mean it now, who is Mido to steal the spotlight from the national team before 80 million Egyptians and the rest of the African continent, in order for us to hear his apology? I hope this reported story is not true, because if it is and he does proceed with this plan, it will only solidify the national impression of what a self-absorbed brat he is.
He does owe a public apology, but he should pick a more appropriate time and method to do this.
I commend Hassan Shehata and Ahmed Shobeir for all the professional discipline they have shown in running the national team and football association, and I condemn all the corrupt interferences that have tried to interfere with their work in this incident on behalf of reversing the disciplinary punishment of this player. I was taken by surprise to see this professionalism, yet it is interesting to see before your eyes how corruption tries to insert itself in every available opportunity and crack in the system.
When will 3o'det el khawaga end with some people?
The stadium looks great now, less than half an hour before the game begins.
The only bad omen: the refereeing team has two Maghrebis, and the Tunisian head referee was previously convicted of refereeing fraud to influence a game (Uh oh!).
Wish us luck!
Go Egypt!
[Update: I stumbled upon this interesting quote from Mido in Friday, February 10th's edition (the day of the Final) of the Daily Star. I thought I should share it with you, just so you won't say I was being too tough on the little brat: "In Egypt they are amateurs. The manager is an amateur, the team are amateurs," Mido was quoted as saying by the Daily Express in London. "They think they know everything. People can call me an arrogant Premiership player. The fact is that I am a Premiership player and they are amateurs," added the 22-year old striker, who performed below expectations.
"I have not spoken to Shehata since the incident. I don't care about him. He is a local guy. Before he was in charge of the national team, he managed a second division side."
"I want to play for Egypt again, of course. But I don't regret what I did."
"I was disappointed by the decision to ban me. I don't know why they took it. If they win tomorrow now they can say they took a good disciplinary decision. They will be heroes. But if they lose it will be because of Mido and the trouble he caused. That's how things go."
Shouldn't there be a measuring line that says: "If you are this much of a brat, you are not allowed to play in our national team"? He speaks of himself in the third person. This is even more arrogant than Seneferu's prophecies...This is heresy I tell you!:-)
On a more serious note, just so you can understand the way Al Jazeera operates with its vehement anti-Egyptian political and cultural agenda, they were reveling in exploiting this ensuing controversy in the national team to the fullest, propagating the statements of this brat against the popular confidence in the competence of the management side of the Egyptian national team. Well I guess I should take pleasure in knowing how upset they must have been when we won:-P]
First of all, he does not really mean it because he previously apologized to the Egyptian fans while refusing to apologize to the coach. Secondly, even if he does mean it now, who is Mido to steal the spotlight from the national team before 80 million Egyptians and the rest of the African continent, in order for us to hear his apology? I hope this reported story is not true, because if it is and he does proceed with this plan, it will only solidify the national impression of what a self-absorbed brat he is.He does owe a public apology, but he should pick a more appropriate time and method to do this.
I commend Hassan Shehata and Ahmed Shobeir for all the professional discipline they have shown in running the national team and football association, and I condemn all the corrupt interferences that have tried to interfere with their work in this incident on behalf of reversing the disciplinary punishment of this player. I was taken by surprise to see this professionalism, yet it is interesting to see before your eyes how corruption tries to insert itself in every available opportunity and crack in the system.
When will 3o'det el khawaga end with some people?
The stadium looks great now, less than half an hour before the game begins.
The only bad omen: the refereeing team has two Maghrebis, and the Tunisian head referee was previously convicted of refereeing fraud to influence a game (Uh oh!).
Wish us luck!
Go Egypt!
[Update: I stumbled upon this interesting quote from Mido in Friday, February 10th's edition (the day of the Final) of the Daily Star. I thought I should share it with you, just so you won't say I was being too tough on the little brat: "In Egypt they are amateurs. The manager is an amateur, the team are amateurs," Mido was quoted as saying by the Daily Express in London. "They think they know everything. People can call me an arrogant Premiership player. The fact is that I am a Premiership player and they are amateurs," added the 22-year old striker, who performed below expectations.
"I have not spoken to Shehata since the incident. I don't care about him. He is a local guy. Before he was in charge of the national team, he managed a second division side."
"I want to play for Egypt again, of course. But I don't regret what I did."
"I was disappointed by the decision to ban me. I don't know why they took it. If they win tomorrow now they can say they took a good disciplinary decision. They will be heroes. But if they lose it will be because of Mido and the trouble he caused. That's how things go."
Shouldn't there be a measuring line that says: "If you are this much of a brat, you are not allowed to play in our national team"? He speaks of himself in the third person. This is even more arrogant than Seneferu's prophecies...This is heresy I tell you!:-)
On a more serious note, just so you can understand the way Al Jazeera operates with its vehement anti-Egyptian political and cultural agenda, they were reveling in exploiting this ensuing controversy in the national team to the fullest, propagating the statements of this brat against the popular confidence in the competence of the management side of the Egyptian national team. Well I guess I should take pleasure in knowing how upset they must have been when we won:-P]
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Oh Thank Heavens
Palestinian Islamic Jihad has announced that it will not join a coalition government with Hamas and Fatah. We wouldn't want it to tarnish the reputation of these two lovebirds, would we?
It seems that the three political factions/"liberation" movements are relaying amongst themselves the role of "terrorist" and "ruler" in a political game of 'musical chairs'.
Hamas however is living up to its new role of responsibility as head of the new Palestinian government, and is giving diplomacy every chance available to make ends meet:
"There is still time to reach understanding with these forces," he said. "It's hasty to consider what we hear in the media as final positions," he said.
Meshaal told reporters in Cairo "resistance will remain a legitimate right" of the Palestinian people "until the liberation of its land and recovery of its rights."
"The movement (Hamas) will not stand against resistance. It will not condemn resistance operations," he said, adding that it would also not arrest guerrillas fighting Israel.
This is getting funnier by the day.
AP photo of an Islamic Jihad demonstration. Shouldn't this man with the machine gun be torn to pieces by the cartoon rioters for defaming not only the name of the Prophet (pbuh), but God Almighty?
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Go Egypt!
Egypt just played a great game against Senegal in the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations, beating it 2-1. We will now play a tough final showdown this Friday against Cote d'Ivoire, which will be thirsty for revenge as we beat them good in the first round of our group.
Nigeria was less fortunate today, losing from Cote d'Ivoire 1-0. Nigeria played one of the best games of the tournament against Tunisia in the quarter finals. I thought they were the best representatives of strength and grace, and I loved the way their fans played great trumpet music throughout their entire games, whether they were winning or losing they seemed to be having, and hoping for, a good time. Tunisia on the other hand played as violently as ever, losing even though it had two Brazilian players on their attack squad. What a shame!:-) I hope they get disqualified from the World Cup, because what then is the point of the word "Nations" in the "Africa Cup", or the World Cup for that matter?
Stay tuned for stadium reports from Tomanbay and Big Pharaoh if they attended the game.
And by the way,
MIDO IS A SPOILED BRAT.
I just had to say that.
Nigeria was less fortunate today, losing from Cote d'Ivoire 1-0. Nigeria played one of the best games of the tournament against Tunisia in the quarter finals. I thought they were the best representatives of strength and grace, and I loved the way their fans played great trumpet music throughout their entire games, whether they were winning or losing they seemed to be having, and hoping for, a good time. Tunisia on the other hand played as violently as ever, losing even though it had two Brazilian players on their attack squad. What a shame!:-) I hope they get disqualified from the World Cup, because what then is the point of the word "Nations" in the "Africa Cup", or the World Cup for that matter?
Stay tuned for stadium reports from Tomanbay and Big Pharaoh if they attended the game.
And by the way,
MIDO IS A SPOILED BRAT.
I just had to say that.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Aha!
Prophet Seneferu strikes again;-) The Syrians are indeed behind the embassy attacks:
At least one person died, 30 were injured and about 200 were detained in the violence Sunday, officials said. Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said the arrested included 76 Syrians, 35 Palestinians and 38 Lebanese.
A majority of Syrians, a mobful of Palestinians instigated by them, and some Lebanese followers of Hizbullah. Moreover, the mobs were moblized in buses from all over Lebonon to the embassy and Christian churches in Beirut, hardly a random act at all.
...The United States accused the Syrian government of backing the protests in Lebanon and Syria, an accusation also made by anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians.
We prophetic bloggers don't need no C.I.A ;-)
Bisho is a very sick man. There is nothing wrong with being sick per se, but when you are sick enough to actively seek for international civil strife and warring among peoples of the world, then that is when you cross the line into being a problem that needs to be taken care of.
At least one person died, 30 were injured and about 200 were detained in the violence Sunday, officials said. Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said the arrested included 76 Syrians, 35 Palestinians and 38 Lebanese.
A majority of Syrians, a mobful of Palestinians instigated by them, and some Lebanese followers of Hizbullah. Moreover, the mobs were moblized in buses from all over Lebonon to the embassy and Christian churches in Beirut, hardly a random act at all.
...The United States accused the Syrian government of backing the protests in Lebanon and Syria, an accusation also made by anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians.
We prophetic bloggers don't need no C.I.A ;-)
Bisho is a very sick man. There is nothing wrong with being sick per se, but when you are sick enough to actively seek for international civil strife and warring among peoples of the world, then that is when you cross the line into being a problem that needs to be taken care of.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
No Idolatry
I don't believe in idolatry.
So I removed my image.
(Lest someone worship me or something.)
So I removed my image.
(Lest someone worship me or something.)
Buy Danish
I still didn't want to take the Danish boycott matter too seriously. But after the Syrians torched a 3rd embassy, I thought I must hang up my Buy Danish logo.
I really don't think it was a coincidence that two embassies can be allowed to burn in Syria, and the third one would be torched by its followers in Lebanon. This was the perfect opportunity for Syria to dispel the gathering public opinion against itself, while at the same time rally Arab muslim public opinion against a threatening foreign enemy: European countries whose press allowed the publication of offensive cartoons, however stupid this sounds.
How twisted can a dictator be?
I really don't think it was a coincidence that two embassies can be allowed to burn in Syria, and the third one would be torched by its followers in Lebanon. This was the perfect opportunity for Syria to dispel the gathering public opinion against itself, while at the same time rally Arab muslim public opinion against a threatening foreign enemy: European countries whose press allowed the publication of offensive cartoons, however stupid this sounds.
How twisted can a dictator be?
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Bye bye, Captain
Something tells me this captain won't live for long.
SAFAGA, Egypt (Reuters) - Survivors of the Red Sea ferry disaster said on Saturday the Egyptian captain had fled his burning ship by lifeboat and abandoned them to their fate, as hopes faded of finding some 800 missing people.
...Egyptian survivor Shahata Ali said the passengers had told the captain about the fire but he told them not to worry."We were wearing lifejackets but they told us there was nothing wrong, told us to take them off and they took away the lifejackets. Then the boat started to sink and the captain took a boat and left," he added, speaking to Reuters Television.
"The captain was the first to leave and we were surprised to see the boat sinking," added Khaled Hassan, another survivor.
If the government catches him, it will be more than eager to punish him as a suitable scapegoat to appease the angry families:
"Nobody is telling anything, it's unbearable," says Said Ali Said, from southern Egypt whose cousin was on the boat. "Just tell me if he is dead or alive."
"This is a dirty government, may God burn their hearts as they burned mine," one woman told AP. "I want my brother. I have no-one else in this life."
And if the families find him alive, they will likely tear him to pieces.
His only hope for survival is to live the rest of his life in hiding, which more likely than not he cannot do. Fate can have a merciless way of catching up with people.
SAFAGA, Egypt (Reuters) - Survivors of the Red Sea ferry disaster said on Saturday the Egyptian captain had fled his burning ship by lifeboat and abandoned them to their fate, as hopes faded of finding some 800 missing people.
...Egyptian survivor Shahata Ali said the passengers had told the captain about the fire but he told them not to worry."We were wearing lifejackets but they told us there was nothing wrong, told us to take them off and they took away the lifejackets. Then the boat started to sink and the captain took a boat and left," he added, speaking to Reuters Television.
"The captain was the first to leave and we were surprised to see the boat sinking," added Khaled Hassan, another survivor.
If the government catches him, it will be more than eager to punish him as a suitable scapegoat to appease the angry families:
"Nobody is telling anything, it's unbearable," says Said Ali Said, from southern Egypt whose cousin was on the boat. "Just tell me if he is dead or alive."
"This is a dirty government, may God burn their hearts as they burned mine," one woman told AP. "I want my brother. I have no-one else in this life."
And if the families find him alive, they will likely tear him to pieces.
His only hope for survival is to live the rest of his life in hiding, which more likely than not he cannot do. Fate can have a merciless way of catching up with people.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Egyptian Passenger Ferry Tragedy
This is not the first mass accident in the last few years that is caused by gross negligence. Who is responsible for taking care of these problems?
Gross precautionary negligence is not enough however, our authorities must add their own touches to make the tragedy even more complete:
SAFAGA, Egypt - An Egyptian passenger ferry carrying nearly 1,500 people, mostly Egyptian workers returning from Saudi Arabia, sank in the Red Sea early Friday. Coast Guard vessels pulled some 185 bodies from the sea, and at least 263 survivors escaped on lifeboats, officials said.
Four Egyptian rescue ships reached the scene Friday afternoon, about 10 hours after the 35-year-old ferry likely went down. As darkness descended Friday at the site, some 57 miles off the Egyptian port of Hurghada, there were fears the death toll could be extremely high.
There is more:
Rescue efforts appeared confused. Egyptian officials initially turned down a British offer to divert a warship to the scene to help out and a U.S. offer to send a P3-Orion maritime naval patrol aircraft to the area. The British craft, HMS Bulwark, headed toward from the southern Red Sea where it was operating, then turned around when the offer was rejected.
But then Egypt reversed itself and asked for both the Orion and the Bulwark to be sent - then finally decided to call off the Bulwark, deciding it was too far away to help, said Lt. Cdr. Charlie Brown of the U.S. 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain. In the end, the Orion - which has the capability to search underwater from the air - was sent, but the Bulwark was not, he said.
Do the authorities find it embarrassing to use the help of British and American warships to save its drowning citizens?
Apparently they find it more honourable to order our army not to return fire on armed Palestinians who invade Egypt and kill our soldiers.
Somebody is seriously confused.
Gross precautionary negligence is not enough however, our authorities must add their own touches to make the tragedy even more complete:
SAFAGA, Egypt - An Egyptian passenger ferry carrying nearly 1,500 people, mostly Egyptian workers returning from Saudi Arabia, sank in the Red Sea early Friday. Coast Guard vessels pulled some 185 bodies from the sea, and at least 263 survivors escaped on lifeboats, officials said.
Four Egyptian rescue ships reached the scene Friday afternoon, about 10 hours after the 35-year-old ferry likely went down. As darkness descended Friday at the site, some 57 miles off the Egyptian port of Hurghada, there were fears the death toll could be extremely high.
There is more:
Rescue efforts appeared confused. Egyptian officials initially turned down a British offer to divert a warship to the scene to help out and a U.S. offer to send a P3-Orion maritime naval patrol aircraft to the area. The British craft, HMS Bulwark, headed toward from the southern Red Sea where it was operating, then turned around when the offer was rejected.
But then Egypt reversed itself and asked for both the Orion and the Bulwark to be sent - then finally decided to call off the Bulwark, deciding it was too far away to help, said Lt. Cdr. Charlie Brown of the U.S. 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain. In the end, the Orion - which has the capability to search underwater from the air - was sent, but the Bulwark was not, he said.
Do the authorities find it embarrassing to use the help of British and American warships to save its drowning citizens?
Apparently they find it more honourable to order our army not to return fire on armed Palestinians who invade Egypt and kill our soldiers.
Somebody is seriously confused.
*AP photos.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
"Prophecies, Prophecies..."
We are indeed prophetic, as Sandmonkey says, when it comes to foreseeing the reprecussions of this moronic boycott against Denmark.
My own humble prophecy is listed here, shortly followed by a bigoted comment by Colonel Sanders, then followed by me with a brief glimpse of what otherwise could have been.
Our prophecies came true here and here, explained for the reasons analysed here, and crowned with the ultimate source of stupidity plagueing the Arab World which can (and highly recommendedly should!) be found -> here.
The secret to our Supernatural Powers? Ok, Sandmonkey gives it up here: we tried to use our brains. Sorry, folks...this time there's no magic involved.
Maybe we should form a Middle Eastern Prophetic Bloggers Syndicate and send a monthly newsletter of "Do's & Don'ts" [these Catastrophies] to the morons sitting in the Arab League?
We are afterall in the land of the prophets, aren't we?;-)
Prophecies anyone?
(Discounts till the end of February!)
My own humble prophecy is listed here, shortly followed by a bigoted comment by Colonel Sanders, then followed by me with a brief glimpse of what otherwise could have been.
Our prophecies came true here and here, explained for the reasons analysed here, and crowned with the ultimate source of stupidity plagueing the Arab World which can (and highly recommendedly should!) be found -> here.
The secret to our Supernatural Powers? Ok, Sandmonkey gives it up here: we tried to use our brains. Sorry, folks...this time there's no magic involved.
Maybe we should form a Middle Eastern Prophetic Bloggers Syndicate and send a monthly newsletter of "Do's & Don'ts" [these Catastrophies] to the morons sitting in the Arab League?
We are afterall in the land of the prophets, aren't we?;-)
Prophecies anyone?
(Discounts till the end of February!)
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
How to say Good Bye
Ok, for those of you who are looking for the source of the Middle East's cultural and theological deterioration in the last few decades, you will find it in this great post from Roba.
To fix the negative image being afforded these days to Islam, it isn't enough to just reverse this silly boycott against Denmark. To take positive action for reform, let's start a new campaign: Boycott Wahhabism.
To fix the negative image being afforded these days to Islam, it isn't enough to just reverse this silly boycott against Denmark. To take positive action for reform, let's start a new campaign: Boycott Wahhabism.