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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why the fuck anyone would want to go to Sharm El Shek anyway?

288 replies

GlitteryRollerGirl · 06/11/2015 13:45

Just that really.

That part of the world is incrediably volatile at the moment, even more so since the terrorist attack in Tunisia. The foreign office advised against travelling there after that. I've always wanted to go to and see the pyramids but accept its not going to happen for the foreseeable future, it's not worth the risk . Now this terrible incident with the plane, clearly there is intelligence telling the government that it's just not safe to fly to or from there at the moment.

Aside from that, I've known loads of people who've been there and none have liked it. Huge purpose built resorts with gates and armed guards on them?! No thanks! I'd never be able to relax.

If you want some winter sun what's wrong with the good old Canaries?

OP posts:
Sansoora · 12/11/2015 09:44

You can't just say bad stuff happens and if its your time you will go and use that as an excuse for poor security measures.

His attitude make my blood boil. The fact is that people are supposed to use their knowledge to protect themselves against evil or things that may hurt them/others. Anyone who has studied the Koran or lived the life knows that its not Ok to say it was the will of God when people were supposed to be doing their job and using things like X-Ray machines to prevent the likes of what happened.

People like Zaher give the saying "Inshallah' very bad name.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 12/11/2015 13:57

is anyone in the world knows when he will die or even how and were no one knows when is his time

That's actually perfectly true - though that said, most of us aren't exactly keen to hasten the day by taking foolish risks within known danger zones, which is why Sharm's tourist industry is likely to suffer

Normally I'd be sorry for all the innocent locals who'll lose out, but that's not so easy when the community are very happy to take the money but perhaps not quite so ready to raise their game in terms of security, relying instead on "God wills ..." Hmm

Tram10 · 12/11/2015 16:28

This is a Facebook post which has been shared by thousands, the author has made many valid points.

1- It's a Russian plane, carrying Russian tourists, that crashed on Egyptian soil.

2 - ISIS, being the needy teenage bitch that they are, tried to get attention by claiming they shot the plane down with a MANPAD - which is physically impossible.

3 - For some reason, the UK, US and other governments collected intelligence that gives them reason to believe a bomb exploded on the plane (unlike what ISIS claimed) - according to a communication they intercepted which was basically some ISIS terrorists cheering about the plane falling.

4 - The UK shared their intelligence with basically the whole world, to persuade them to stop flights to Egypt, while they didn't share it with Egypt.

5 - The daily mail is making allegations that a commercial plane dodged a missile in Sinai last August, without passengers noticing - not sure what kind of pot they're smoking in London these days, but I'd love to have some of that.

6 - Western media is now clearly portraying Egypt as a war zone, where ISIS is taking control over the country. Tourists going home are photographed kissing their families after they "escaped the chaos" in Sharm El Sheikh.

7 - The Egyptian government is put on the defensive, portrayed as if it is trying to cover up the whole bomb theory, and pressured to "concede" that it was a bomb.

I've heard of many plane crashes before. Some planes have even disappeared (like the Malaysian airlines plane). It's a tragedy, no question about it. If a bomb did in fact bring down the plane, it's a security failure that must be addressed and those who didn't do their job - or conspired to make that happen - must be held accountable.

But the way this crash has been treated, both by governments and the media, is sickening. No country asked to stop flights or evacuate its citizens from the US when 9/11 happened, or from Malaysia, Ukraine, or any other country that witnessed a similar tragedy. The whole world stood by them.

It's insulting that the UK announced it has intelligence that indicated the plane was bombed and didnt send it to Egypt. It's insulting that the western media is portraying Egypt as a chaotic war zone, while it has done immense efforts to make sure the country is safe for tourists and it's 90 million inhabitants. It is insulting that instead of showing solidarity and support to a country that is struggling to get back on its feet, it is being attacked and demonised.

And its also insulting that our government and president, who are so keen on silencing their Egyptian critics, are like sitting ducks when it comes to the foreign media and governments. Egypt didn't bomb the plane. If there was a security breach, hold those responsible to account. But there is no reason to be on the defensive. There is no reason for the whole country to pay the price.

atticusclaw2 · 12/11/2015 16:37

And I'm sure the author of the facebook post is on an immediate flight out to sharm (via somewhere else of course). Hmm

The area isn't safe. The foreign office have therefore placed a temporary restriction on flights. It's no different from the tunisia scenario etc. I love Egypt and its true that locals are very dependent on tourism but in order to ensure the western tourism continues they need to demonstrate that they can keep the tourists safe. At the moment they are unable to do that.

meditrina · 12/11/2015 16:40

"No country asked to stop flights or evacuate its citizens from the US when 9/11 happened"

Point of detail, all flights in US were grounded for a while in the immediate aftermath. Also in places like London, planes were re routed so they did not pass over the main conurbation or any 'trophy' sites.

Suspending flights until countermeasures are in place does have plenty of precedent. When this leaves stranded travellers, alternative means have to be found to get them home. Normal.

The near miss on the Thompson flight this summer was (apparently) properly investigated but British authorities, and the Egyptians say it was fired by their military. Why would they make an admissions if there was no missile?

Booyaka · 12/11/2015 16:51

Actually, if I remember correctly some nationalities were evacuated. Saudis were if IIRC, and the U.S. government facilitated that as they were potential targets.

And many flights were grounded. And Meditrina is correct about flights being diverted away from London, it was eerily quiet for weeks.

Booyaka · 12/11/2015 16:53

Plus, there was an incident a few weeks after 9/11, just after planes had started going over London again. A plane had a 'near miss' with CentrePoint which I saw, as did several other people in my office. It was put down to faulty navigational equipment, which I've never believed. It seemed to be hushed up.

EnaSharplesHairnet · 12/11/2015 16:59

I do not believe this has been done to insult Egypt.

Frankly my mind boggles.

jamtartandcustard · 12/11/2015 18:16

No after 9/11 the British were not evacuated but 14 years down the line we are still not allowed to take more then 100ml of liquid in our hand luggage. Security was tightened up significantly. I think the issue with Sharm is the lack of security at the airport. you can't complain at a country for just trying to protect its citizens and keep them safe!
Egypt has never interested me as a holiday destination. I can't for the life of me understand why people want to go to turkey either especially with what's happening next door in Syria :-/

EnaSharplesHairnet · 12/11/2015 18:21

Apparently you can complain..

phoenix1973 · 12/11/2015 18:37

We went this year and we travel to Egypt for the HEAT and guaranteed blue skies and fantastic sunshine which we just do not get here.
We have been to the Canaries in the past, but they are much more expensive for a lesser star rating and poorer service. The Egyptians in our resorts have bent over backwards to help us have a great holiday and we felt so looked after.
My partner wants to go to Cancun next year but I don't want to travel that far when you can get beach and heat in Egypt.
HOWEVER - we were allowed through the airport security with a 2 litre bottle of water. We broke the seal on it AFTER we had walked past the desks and then men. They saw us do it and waved us through saying its okay.

Also, it is a muslim country and their ways of living and attitudes towards women are very much prevalent.

But I do feel for the staff, who don't see their families for months on end and do not earn good money. The staff in resort work extremely long hours and their own standard of living is not as good as ours here (and we are working class).

They do need the tourism for jobs - but we need safe airport procedures to be followed so we can come and go safely with our families.

phoenix1973 · 12/11/2015 18:41

Oh, and we went to Turkey for the first time this year as well (Easter).
Lovely resort but not sure I want to return with the Syria stuff going on. I do wonder whether Russia is using Turkey to do its dirty work then taking the credit for "dealing with ISIS" when the Western Rulers seem happy to ignore the issue.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 12/11/2015 18:56

I do not believe this has been done to insult Egypt

I don't imagine many people do, Ena It seems to me to be simple caution which is surely sensible in the circumstances, but looking on the bright side at least we've not been told it's down to Islamophobia ... yet

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