Established 1880
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gazette@eltahrir.net.eg
Thursday 27 april 2006
UNTIL Egyptian investigators identify the masterminds and perpetrators of the triple bombing in the beach resort of Dahab, the world should not stand by watching. The attack, which left 18 people dead and many others injured, should catalyse the world into mobilising efforts to grapple with the threat of terrorism. Over recent years, different parts of the world have been horrified by merciless strikes unleashed by terrorists, who recognise no boundaries or morals. From Egypt to Jordan and from the US to Britain to Spain, terrorists have unmasked their ugly faces and deeds. The world seems to have got adapted to the dangers of terror. On the surface, this seems positive. It implies a message to the dark forces that however evil they may be, they would not be able to grind life to a halt. Nonetheless, in the absence of a strong international will, terrorism is still alive and kicking. Its evil thrives on a lack of global efforts to uproot it. Leaving the formidable task to the US to undertake on its own is not a good idea. America's monopoly of the war against terrorism has done more harm than good. Terrorists apparently manipulate US foreign policy blunders, especially in the Middle East, in order to glamourise their despicable acts. It is high time the UN, whose raison d'tre is to preserve the world's peace, has to rally support for convening an international conference to mull the best ways to combat terrorism. President Hosni Mubarak was the first to suggest such a conference in the 1990s. Given the mounting perils of terrorism, it would be a grave mistake for the world to play down the threats of terrorism or tolerate it as a fait accompli of life. R.A.K On the front page of the daily Al-Ahram is Osama Saraya's condemnation of Monday's triple blasts in the South Sinai resort of Dahab. "The bombings came at a critical time when Christians and Egyptians celebrated Easter, Sham el-Nessim (a springtime festival) and Sinai Liberation Day. "The Dahab attacks targeted our economy and were intended to deprive many people of the means to earn a living. "The atmosphere of reform and freedom was shattered by the attacks. All Egyptians were targets." Al-Ahram's Diaa Rashwan reminded readers that the blasts in Taba in 2004, Sharm el-Sheikh last year and in Dahab Monday all coincided with national holidays. "The perpetrators deliberately chose those idyllic places where security is supposed to be tight." Moustafa Olwi, also in Al-Ahram, said the fact that the explosive devices were primitive does not mean that a terrorist group masterminded the three bombing attacks. "We would all like to know which terrorist group was responsible. When was it formed? Who are its leaders? Does it have a particular ideology? Does it have links with organisations such as Al Qaeda? There are many more questions that need prompt and credible answers." Salah Montasser in Al-Ahram believes there is a diabolical mind behind all the terrorist bombings in Sinai. "The dates and places were not chosen at random. The mastermind cannot be a psychiatric case." 'They are nothing but monsters who must have a pact with the devil to kill and maim innocent people.' Galal Deweidar on the back page of the daily Al-Akhbar said the timings of the attacks show that the perpetrators were not Egyptians. "Those who carried out these attacks were hired traitors, whose objective was to undermine the country's security and stability. "They are nothing but monsters who must have a pact with the devil to kill and maim innocent people." Ibrahim Seada in the same paper wondered about the message the bombers wanted to convey and to whom. "Are we being warned to stop urbanising and developing Sinai? Were the attacks a means to ruin the economy? "Whatever the message was, all Egyptians reject it." Mohamed Ali Ibrahim of the daily Al-Gomhuria believes that it was not necessarily an organised terrorist group which carried out the recent bombings in Sinai. "I believe such a kind of terrorism might be random, and therefore more dangerous than the organised sort. "In other words, the frustrated person who cannot find a job might easily turn to terrorism. There is also hatred and condemnation of the US and Israel. Such hatred might create more terrorists." Abbas el-Tarabili in the opposition daily Al-Wafd said the main aim of these latest terrorist attacks was to strike against the Egyptian economy. "Imagine how many Egyptians lose their jobs after every terrorist attack. Imagine that the efforts by hotels to attract patrons and guests come to nothing after every terrorist attack. "I believe the whole of Egypt is a target for those terrorists, but we should intensify the hunt for the criminals?" Mohamed Fouda in the evening paper Al-Messa suggested a national conference on Sinai. "The conference should be attended by experts in politics, economy, social science and security. "It should be held in the context of Egyptian security because Sinai is an important part of Egypt's land. "The 60,000 square kilometre Peninsula is also the eastern gateway for Egypt. "Its population is barely 400,000 and during the 30 years since the October 1973 war, Sinai's did not increase, unlike in the capital and its suburbs. "We used to dream about the population of Sinai reaching the 3 million mark, so that it would become the strong protector on our eastern border." 'India produced the bomb, but this did not affect the balance of power with neighbouring Pakistan.' Abdul Azim Ramadan in the daily Al-Gomhuria devoted his column to Iran's nuclear experience. "The criterion for evaluating the Iranian nuclear progamme is its effects on national security. In other words, does Iran need nuclear arms to ensure security? "Has the programme strengthened Iran's national security so far? Was the country's security threatened in the first place? "I do not believe that Iran's nuclear programme will benefit national security, which was not threatened at all. "By the end of the Iraq-Iran war and after the ousting of the Saddam Hussein regime, matters were more settled in the Gulf and nothing threatened Iran's security. "On the other hand, I think that nuclear weapons are useless. India produced the bomb, but this did not affect the balance of power with neighbouring Pakistan. There was no effect on the entire Islamic world. "Both countries are theoretically nuclear powers. So what? "On the Arab level, Israel has manufactured nuclear warheads, but they have change nothing in the Arab-Israeli balance of power. "I wonder how Iran will benefit from its nuclear weapons? The world has changed. Yesterday's threat is no more. "I believe that any effort by any country to build nuclear weapons is a waste of time. "The expected confrontation between the US and Iran will prove that to the world." Ahmed Durrah in Al-Akhbar commented on the current tension between the US and Iran, and how the US is considering the use of military force against Iran to foil its nuclear plans. "Is there any rational person who can convince the US administration that it is on the way to dragging the whole world into World War III, in which the nuclear weapon would be its main hero. "Now is the time for the US administration to start thinking logically, otherwise God only knows who will be the biggest loser. Abeer Tayel |
