Gunmen kidnap two U.S. tourists in Egypt's Sinai

REUTERS ^ | 02/03/2012 | NA

[driftdiver]

I would love to see the history in Egypt. Who would be idiotic enough to go there now? Don’t they read the news?

[Trapper6012]

Unfortunately, what was once a pretty safe country to live, has become the Islamic wild-west. The Sharm El-Sheik area “was” a very tourist trendy place to hang out. It was, prior to the deposing of Mubarak a place where thousands of western tourists came to enjoy the beaches and fantastic diving. The Bedouin have long been the criminal smugglers in the Sinai. Under Mubarak, there were some sizable marijuana grow ops busted in the valleys of the Sinai mountains. No more Mubarak, no tourism and no rule of law. I am an American living in Jordan, which is very safe. that being said, when the “one” removed forces in December, a sizable group of Airborne and SF folks flew from western Anbar in Iraq, straight to the eastern base of Mafraq Jordan, where they are deployed along the Syrian border, along with some Patriot “type” launchers.. The entire ME region is wound up pretty tight these days. The results when it does fly loose will be interesting....

[VA_Gentleman]

Calling Seal Team VI!

[And2TheRepublic]

I spent a year deployed to Sinai with the Multinational Force and Observers.

That place is like Cancun for Europeans.

It was my first deployment to a Muslim Country. Very eye opening.

[Vaquero]

and there is nothing so invigorating and relaxing as spending your vacation in the Sinai peninsula....

almost as much fun as vacationing in Iraq and just taking a happy little stroll into Iran....

[AmericanInTokyo]

Hint: It was not just for ransom purposes only, if you get my drift.

[CAluvdubya]

This is just not possible as The Big O is the reason all peoples of all the other countries love us now. /s

[1010RD]

Here’s a photo story of Sinai tourism and culture. They feature some shots of St. Catherine’s Monastery.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/03/sinai/moyer-photography

[Dr. Ursus]

I’m glad you got to go Egypt.Our trip was cancelled an hour
before we were to leave for the airport.I’m afraid Egypt is
lost to the West.

[Jane Austen]

Yes, and out of Mexico.

[moovova]

Vacation in Egypt?

More like a “Watch this ya’ll.” moment.

[bigdirty]

In hindsight, imagine Israel hadn’t foolishly given the Sinai back to Egypt. The world would be a lot better place. Never, NEVER give up land for a stupid peice of paper.

[dfwgator]

Potential Darwin Award winners here.

[ladyjane]

Carry your M16s and be sure to bring your own bottled water. Very nasty bugs there.

[crosshairs]

Why would any idiot tourist go to Egypt? Let their tourism drop to zero. Serves them right.

[crosshairs]

I wouldn't visit a country like Egypt unless I was with a lot of other people and they let us carry M16s and grenade launchers.

Schedule your trip via mercenary.com No gnomes need apply.

[Alter Kaker]

Loose lips.

[Karliner]

Trapper, I know you might mean well but pl3ease think before you write. Use a country not an exact area of deployment ever. I was deployed to some countries I still do not talk about and that was near thirty years ago. Could get folks killed.

[Venturer]

I believe Egyptian Tourism is already feeling the shock, and I hope no one goes there for a long time.

I haven’t much sympathy for tourists who go somewhere and put their heads in the Lion’s mouth.

You will not catch me in Mexico, Africa ,Indonesia, Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Iran,or any other place where I am hated by the populace or criminals are running the country.

[Moltke]

Gunmen in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula kidnapped two American women on Friday in an apparent attempt to hold them for ransom...

...and a little bit of hanky-panky.