Debbie

Thank you Grasshopper. Your point is well made. I was only trying, in my post to emphasize that the media is only the media and that hearing from someone that actually lives in Egypt might make some people realize the true situation. <BR>(And while some may have not liked what I wrote, I did receive some mail from people that felt better about traveling after reading it) <BR> <BR>Keep in mind the politics, ownership of newspapers, and the effect of sensationalism and maybe you'll understand why what gets written in any newspaper gets written. <BR> <BR>Again, if it felt dangerous here, I'd be the hell out. I like being here alot, but not enough to die for it.

Sheryl

Debbie, <BR> <BR>I have yet to hear responses from any Middle Eastern leaders or Muslims which unequivocally denounced these barbaric and cowardly acts of 9-11. <BR>This upsets me almost almost as much as the disgraceful terrorists acts themselves. <BR>Again I strongly feel against travel to these particular countries until a clear and definative response to these actions of cowards is presented. Until the silent majority or muslims start denouncing terrorism unequivocally I will never set foot or spend one penny in these countries.

Debbie

Sheryl, <BR>That's your right. Not everyone feels that way, and it's their right to travel whereever they feel like traveling. I'm just here to let them know it is safe to be in Egypt if they wish to come to Egypt.

Dave

Just to jump in here - to say that it is 'safe' to travel in Egypt right now seems a bit much. Western tourists have been targeted in Egypt in the past (I remember lots of western tourists getting killed a couple years back), and given the celebrations in egypt on september 11 I don't thinke thats a guarantee anyone can make. <BR> <BR>Also, given the lack of condemnation for the attacks by the egyptian government, I don't believe americans or europeans should support this nation with tourist dollars - just my opinion. <BR> <BR>Of course, if anyone chooses to go that's a personal decision and their business.

BILL

DEBBIE, <BR>Just returned from a month in Israel,most of my friends tried to change our minds, due to the so called political climate.We had a fabulous time,felt safer in Tel Aviv than we do at home (Canada).Don't waste your breath on these doom and gloom people !They wouldn't travel to a country like Egypt anyway ! <BR> I suspect Orlando or Coney Island would be more their speed. <BR> <BR>

michael

I agree that we should indeed travel to Israel, as an expression of support for our allies in the war on terror. <BR> <BR>Glad you had a good time.

grasshopper

<I>&lt;b&gt;Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, also dismissed the appeal and said the world was united in the war against terrorism. <BR> <BR>``There is a war between bin Laden and the whole world,'' Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher told reporters ahead of a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Syria when asked about bin Laden's appeal.</I></B> <BR> <BR>Maybe not the denunciation that you're looking for, Sheryl. However, a clear message that Egypt does not support Bin Laden's war against the world. You've made yourself clear. But you must allow for different opinions. <BR>

Tom

On tonights news on channel 2 at 6 PM a reporter went to Cairo to get peoples reaction to the tragedy in America. <BR>To my amazement clerics were telling their congregation that "America deserved it, not to feel sorry for them". Another genious told his congegation which was also on a loud speaker that America flew the planes themselves into the WTC. <BR>Part 2 will be on at 11 PM tonight in NY. <BR>I have been to Egypt in 1995, loved the trip and the people I met. However right now I have nothing but anger in my heart listening to such nonsense. <BR>I also will NEVER set foot or spend any $$ in these countries whose poor economys and substandard of living are blamed on the US instead of their despot leaders who couldn't run a hot dog stand.

pete

It is not often that I post without a proper address but time is a bit of out of joint. I was at a monthly luncheon with fellow retirees today. We were talking about the time in Egypt in the 1960s when our firm had a contract with the government of Egypt. At that time the Islaelis were sending over letter bombs. It was a shame, as the secretaries bore the blunt of the blast. One chap told of a secretary he knew that lost her eyesight. There is no real message here other than we are all on the same earth. So how do we figure the future out? This forum is about travel and a lot of the recent posts do not discuss this or anything constructive about the world of tomorrow. It is time for a lot of people to think about this. It is the people of the world that will survive or not and I would not bet on the politicians helping much and a lot of the recent post do not give much optimism.

tarek

Mr Michael McClure (if such is your real name, as it appears that your e-mail address is a fake one) <BR>You repeatedly mentioned "street parties that broke out in Cairo among other <BR>places on Sept. 11th". I live in Cairo, and I do not remember having <BR>witnessed any of these parties. All I remember is tha state of shock, <BR>disbelief and worry I and most people I know were in. Then, the prevailing <BR>feeling was that of sadness and sorrow for the innocent victims (even though <BR>some were quick call American policies one of the factors that led to this <BR>tragedy). The feeling I mentioned were true and genuine. The brother of a <BR>schoolmate of mine worked on the 78th floor of the WTC and he was lucky <BR>enough to be late for work that day, while a friend of a coworker of mine <BR>was not that lucky. He died, leaving behind a pregnant wife. <BR>Not only were we affected because it is just sad to see innocent people die <BR>that way, but it did as well strike a chord as Egypt has been the victim of <BR>a vicious wave of terror attacks in the mid-nineties. Moreover, we are now <BR>suffering economically from 9/11 as most people working in tourism are <BR>getting laid off as a direct result of the decrease in the number of <BR>tourists. <BR>Sir, I do not know where you got your story about street parties. If you are <BR>talking about the few fools who expressed satisfaction in some coffe shop <BR>(and whose stroy was reported by all the media) or to the students allegedly <BR>interviewed in a McDonalds restaurant, you are greatly distorting the <BR>information, as non of these occurences were widespread, neither do they <BR>qualify as "street parties". <BR>I find comments by people like you very offensive. All you are doing is <BR>slandering a country for no apparent reason by distorting facts. In the face <BR>of tragic events like the ones that occured in New York city, one should try <BR>to free ones self from prejudice and try to find out what unites all humans, <BR>rather than spreading hatred of The Other and adding more fuel to the fire <BR>Mr Bin Laden and his likes have started. <BR>

tarek

It would seem that Sheryl is another one of those who post a fake e-mail address in order to spread false information. Following is a copy of a message I just tried to send her. <BR>I really wonder why people like her and Michael seem to be willing to spend their time spreading false information about Egypt and other mid-Eastern countries. Did they travel there and had a terrible time? They might as well talk about the real problems of these countries (rip-off, etc), which would be more useful to travellers. <BR> <BR>Sheryl, <BR>In your post at www.fodors.com, you wrote "I have yet to hear responses from <BR>any Middle Eastern leaders or Muslims which unequivocally denounced these <BR>barbaric and cowardly acts of 9-11. " It seems you did not hear because you <BR>have not been listening. As far as Egypt is concerned, the condemnation of <BR>the terror attacks on the US was clear, unequivocal, nd it was repeated on <BR>many occasion by the Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak, by his Foreign <BR>Minister as well as by many other government officials. <BR>Please check your info before spreading wrong ones around. <BR>Sincerely, <BR> <BR>Tarek <BR>

tarek

Anyone really interested in what it is currently like in Egypt might want to have a look at the following article: <BR> <BR>http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Ar...292759,00.html

taxpayer

Israel, our ally needs our support... in doing what exactly? <BR> <BR>Those who regularly listen to National Public Radio's Fresh Air talk show may have caught the October 30th interview with Chris Hedges, former New York Times Balkans Bureau Chief and Middle East Bureau Chief, who published a piece in the October issue of Harper’s <BR>Magazine called "A Gaza Diary." <BR> <BR>Those who missed it, here is the link: <BR> <BR>http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/fa/20011030.fa.01.ram <BR> <BR>If you want to order a copy of the transcript, here is <BR>the page: <BR> <BR>http://freshair.npr.org/tapesFA.cfm <BR> <BR>Here is one gripping quote: <BR> <BR>"I have seen children shot in El Salvador, Algeria, Guatemala, Sarajevo, but I have never before watched soldiers entice children like mice into a trap and murder them for sport." <BR> <BR>

concernedchristian

"Why is God punishing us?" are asking thousands of Christian who happen to live in the very same town Christ was born. A town which sanctity was violated in the las week of October, when our ally, Israel, sent out its tanks to shoot at hospitals, churches and schools. <BR>http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai.../28/wmid28.xml <BR>

Jackie R

I just returned from a trip to Egypt. We were on a Trafalgar tour. <BR> <BR>I wanted to post this message to let potential travels know that the Egyptian people were warm and friendly and that we felt completely safe the whole time we were there. <BR> <BR>We had a fabulous time. Egypt was magical. Because tourism was so down, we had personalized, outstanding service. Often times our tour group (13 of us) were the only ones at the sites. (Which is, of course, terrible for the Egyptian people...) <BR> <BR>The Egyptians had taken measures to ensure security well in advance of Sept 11. Their security measures are beyond anything the US has in place. We had our bags Xrayed twice before boarding planes and then hand searched. We had to go through metal detectors to enter our hotel. <BR> <BR>If you are considering Egypt, go! It is the trip of a lifetime.

dave

If you are considering Egypt, go! It is the trip of a lifetime<BR>==========<BR><BR>Personally I was appalled at the lukewarm response of the egyptian government in criticizing the sept 11 attacks. The egyptian government seemed to lay most of the blame of the attack on 'US policies'.<BR><BR>I would not give my tourist dollars to support this government. I would also not bring my family to this place - remember the scores of european and western tourists that were slaughtered by islamic fundamentalists in egypt a few years ago.<BR><BR>Just my opinion - I don't buy the posters here claiming that it is safe to travel in egypt now. I saw the celebrations on egypt on sept 11th on the news, and saw the interviews with egyptian college students rejoicing in the murder of civilians on sept 11th.<BR><BR>You can believe the posters on this board, or you can believe your own eyes.<BR><BR>JMHO

tarek

Dave, or should I say "Michael McClure", you are spreading inaccurate information (again). Egypt's condemnation of the attacks on the US came promptly after the sad events took place. It was a clear and unequivocal condemnation, which has been followed by an active collaboration and sharing of intelligence with the US. Egypt has suffered from terrorism in the past decade and it has managed to erradicate it locally over 4 years ago, thus becoming a safe destination again. Most Egyptians were appalled by OBL's actions and Egypt's official position is to fully support the US retalliation.<BR><BR>Egypt has long been a peaceful country (the first in the Middle East to sign a peace treaty with Israel, more than 20 years ago) and it has enjoyed a good relationship with te US for years.<BR><BR>The previous poster is right in one thing. You should see the facts with your own eyes rather than believing people like him who are spreading half-truths mixed in with plain lies.

tarek

A few days ago, on 11/7, US Ambassador C. David Welch addressed the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt. In his speech, he said: <BR><BR>"Like President Bush, I am gratified that we can count Egypt as one of our strongest supporters."<BR><BR>Read the whole speech on the US Embassy in Cairo's website:<BR>http://usembassy.egnet.net/usis/pr110702.htm

tarek

Mr McClure, notice that US Ambassador to Cairo clearly and explicitely stated that:<BR><BR>"Egypt, in other words, as a close friend and ally, is doing what close friends and allies do when their help is needed. And it is doing it effectively. Whatever you may have heard or read in the media, this is the official view of the United States Government."<BR><BR>For the whole speech, go to http://usembassy.egnet.net/usis/pr110702.htm<BR>

sss

Really Dave nothing like lumping all the Arabs together. You might also want to note that those tourists were killed (you mentioned) by government subversives down in Luxor 8-10 hours from Cairo. Really something how little we know about politics in the M.E here in the U.S. You would never catch someone canceling out patronage to the Israeli government because they were angry at Palestinian militants most Americans would never make the mistake. Now why don't we also understand who the subversives are in Egypt? BTW Egypt is the second largest recipient of American Foreign aid do you really think they would give a “lukewarm” response to the terrorist attacks? That was not my experience in viewing television interviews. Again you are confusing with other Arab Nations perhaps Iraq, Lybia some other far from friend Arab country. <BR><BR>Dave you have to know how racist this looks. I am sure you are just confused here but you should not make those kind of statements when you are not certain of your sources.<BR><BR>Tarek keep on posting and why not make an appearance on the European/American chat room. Yes I know you will have to hold your breath but if you have patience you can shed some light on issues for people.<BR>