See how he listens to you Muzzy? I would listen to you if you were fair. That admonishon was for all of us. You blew it in the other thread. You are taking sides again.
I don't know why Ralph sees me as a target. Muzzy, I think you could have stopped this at the beginning. He listens to you.
You were there when Ralph first lashed at me. It was about Orbitz. Orbitz promised to refund the difference of lower fares than theirs if you bought it early from them. Since I am coming from California to Ukraine, there are different stopovers everytime you put reservations. When I asked for my refund, they said it had to be the same flights. Many people were fooled, just like me. There were hundreds of complaints with the Better Business Bureau. When, Ralph mentioned Orbitz, I pointed this out. That was when he first came after me as if I committed a crime.
Muzzy, you were there. I repeated my question a few times of what I did wrong. He came after me each time without a good explanation. You laughed and mentioned that you bet years from now, we would still be arguing about the same thing. Then, you had an idea. To stop all this bickering, you started a couple of threads giving the moderators the job of monitoring it. You just didn't want to stick your neck out. That didn’t wor. Then, you decided to stick your neck out with the Christmas Truce thread. It was well intentioned, I admit, but as I pointed out you addressed the perpetrators as ragingbull and others. Ralph thought he was exempt.
See his last post? He has more to say. I am not in a habit of looking for something to say for trouble, but ever since Ralph, I too have a lot to say.
If you see me as the trouble maker, you can point it out. I am not here to make trouble. I am here to be heard. I had so many questions when I first started this venture, that I think others might benefit from what I have been through. Others have different opinions, I understand. We can debate with logic and even agree to disagree, but I will not stand for anyone labeling me and my postings or me as rubbish.
"ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — A group of camouflage-clad men claiming to be security forces killed three Russian tourists and wounded two others in a Caucasus region afflicted by rising insurgent violence, police said Saturday.
The tourists were attacked Friday night as a minivan was transferring them from a regional airport to the winter sports resort area of Baksan in the republic of Kabardino-Balkariya, according to regional police spokesman Maxim Ushanov. Baksan is near Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain and a popular ski area.
Also Saturday, Russian news reports said an explosion heavily damaged a ski lift on one of the slopes of Elbrus. The reports cited local law enforcement officials, who could not be reached for confirmation.
There was no immediate public claim of responsibility for either attack. Russia's Caucasus provinces are plagued by violence attributed to both Islamic insurgents and criminal gangs. Attacks on police and other authorities occur almost daily."
This is about 50 miles from Pyatigorsk, and about 250 miles from Sochi. I suggest that those wishing to travel to the Caucasus region exercise prudence in studying that facts, and making decisions.
"In almost parallel incidents, a terrorist bomb damaged an aerial cableway near Mount Elbrus, and disposal experts defused a car bomb parked outside a tourist hotel ..."
Local law enforcement reported that the car bomb was 'equivalent to 70 kg of TNT'
I over-estimated the distance above: Mt. Elbrus, and the town of Baksan, are less than 200 miles from Sochi.
I hope this all cools over soon. I am flying to Krasnodar in November. Then taking the train south.
In other news, Russia is starting to get agitated with America attempting to set up shop in Afghanistan. I see this one getting more tense.
We got to win Afghanistan first. Shortly after the successful Iraqi surge, General McChrystal asked President Obama for 80,000 for an Afghanstan surge. President Obama said no. General McChrystal asked for 40,000 as the absolute minimum to do the job. President Obama gave him 30,000. I think it should have been won by now.
Back to the bombing. Is their goal an independent state?
Just don't go anywhere near Libya, had the crazy b@stard not been tipped off in 1986 then Reagan might have had him then, let's hope somebody gets him now!
1. Although the Caucasus region is hazardous for travelers, there are many such zones in the world, and I believe that many of them are much more dangerous. In fact, unless you are in US-occupied Iraq, the probability of your being harmed by a terrorism incident is microscopic. Worldwide, lightning is about 30 times more deadly than terrorism. But in almost any country -- especially Russia -- traveling on the roads is your biggest safety risk. In some regions, certain groups of foreigners may be targeted (as kidnap victims, for example), but I haven't heard of such a thing happening in Russia.
2. While the actual danger from terrorism is small, where it is happening frequently you can expect dramatic security responses. For travelers to the Caucasus, this can take the form of special permissions needed to enter certain areas, dealing with numerous security checkpoints, possible necessity to pay bribes, and possible big inconvenience or harrassment.
3. It seems plausible that groups active in the Caucasus may target the Sochi Olympics -- anybody remember Munich? Russia is likely to go all-out with security precautions, which may have some effect on people attending the Olympic games.
4. I am not aware that terrorist activity related to the Caucasus was caused by, or will be much affected by, any events in Afghanistan. Russia has a long history of cruel oppression of ethnic groups in this region, which has continued to play out in recent years. I expect that the terrorism will finally die down, when the Russian government improves the status and well being of those ethnic groups. Russia has tried ferocious and bloody military action, sending death squads into villages, etc. etc. -- and sometimes, this may have seemed to make progress, but never for long.
The good news in this, is that Russia doesn't want a terrible embarrassment at Sochi. And some of the wiser heads understand that this means they must make real progress in dealing with the region's issues. So there is a moment of opportunity here!
Iraq, Afganistan etc. are known about, UK have one warship, yes we still have a warship after all these crazy defence cuts, is off the Libyan coast and I'm sure the Yanks and other(s) warships won't be far away.
Meanwhile Malta (ex RAF Luqa) airport is gathering some military exhibits :)
Durak you're naive beyond all belief. Improve the status and well being of those ethnic groups?? What ethnic groups are you referring too? What is the common denominator in all these attacks?? It just amazes me you guys placate these idiots and won't even call them out by name. Who took those children hostage at Beslan?? Who committed ritual beheadings of Bosnian Christians?? Who slaughtered innocent Serbs?? it's an easy answer. Muslims. Oh, yeah, Munich Black September took the Isreali's hostage? I don't think they were aligned with the IRA.
Nasfan - look a bit closer to home. Who is killing (and beheading hostages) in Mexico? Gosh, it's being done by CATHOLICS!
And, from further back in history, who started the Crusades to try to retrieve the Holy Land? CHRISTIANS. Who set up the Inquisition? CATHOLICS. What religion was Hitler? CHRISTIAN. What religion was Stalin? CHRISTIAN.
I don't know if you lost anyone close on September 11, but please don't let your prejudices get in the way of the truth. Sure, Muslims have committed atrocities in recent times - but they are not the only ones. There are several Muslims in my office, and they're all nice people who are about as likely to commit a terror strike as I am.