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Subscribe to RSSRev. Michel Louis was on a church group trip when he was abducted in Egypt, along with woman in the group and a tour guide. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
CAIRO -- Two American tourists abducted in Egypt's Sinai region while on a church bus tour of the Middle East were released on Monday after three days in captivity, officials told NBC News.
Pastor Rev. Michel Louis, 61 and another woman, 39 – both from Boston – were kidnapped on Friday by a Bedouin tribesman who was angry at the jailing of his uncle on drug charges.
It was not immediately clear if their Egyptian tour guide, who was also taken hostage, had been released.
Egyptian authorities had sought help from local tribal leaders to mediate with the tribesman.
The abduction took place along the road linking Cairo to the sixth-century St. Catherine's Monastery, located at the foot of Mount Sinai where the Old Testament says Moses received the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments.
The route is a frequent target by Bedouins who abduct tourists to pressure police to meet their demands, which is usually to release a detained relative they say has been unjustly arrested.
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Leave a Comment:
If Flip Whiney had been Pres when this happened, Cheney probably would have had him drop a nuclear bomb on Cairo.
Flip = Bad for America
obama = bladder.
Good thing! You know what happened the last time God said, "Let my people go!"
Don't make me come down there
-God
nothing new here-1200374--Your so smart maybe we should send ground troops and start another war like Bush and have our service men killed for no reason again
Should have kept them there for being stupid enough to go in the first place.
that is the kind of people obama and hillary support, islamic fanatic terror group
Predictable.
The president no doubt got personally involved as well as Al and Jesse.
Wasn't quite so fast for the kids in Iran.
Wonder why?
$'s to Eygpt.
Yea !!
Would you explain what Al and Jesse had to do with this situation involving American travelers and a Bedouin tribesman who was angry about his brother's arrest for drug charges...I don't get the connection
Making things up is that all Republicans can do. No facts just run the mouth
Something obviously makes people in the middle east EXTRA angry and violent, maybe its the fact that they are poor and oppressed by their "elected" leaders, maybe its Islam, maybe its the water.. nonetheless why go there? WTF is the point? You are not an international aid worker, you are not a UN soldier-- you are some dumbass bible beater with a self righteous agenda looking for adventure-- hope you enjoyed your trip
Love the logic...........my brother is arrested for drugs so I will kidnap an innocent tourist to hold and see if they will release my brother................brilliant.
actually its not a bad theory...what other leverage do bedoins have? Not agreeing with them, but its not necessarily bad logic if you are desperate enough.
vermontguy your probably right I was applying what would happen here. If my brother was arrested for drugs and I kidnapped some German tourist to get him released the next thing I would see is my brother in the cell next to mine.
oh, here, sure, that's a different story. In a lot of countries this kind of bartering is a lot more common and accepted. Where life is cheap and laws are flexible, creative solutions often work...
@ Gtouch
I know it sounded like a good plan in his head. The last thing we was thinking was "what could go wrong?"
gtouch.......I think I know you're brother.
It's call terrorism
OK, I've said it before in another similar kidnapping, but here it is again for those that didn't get the memo.
Americans stay home! You are NOT loved in the middle east and your dumb a$$ is going to have something bad happen to it!!!!!!!!
Feel free to pass that message around to your friends who don't READ THE NEWS.
Just don't seem to listen do they...
Will it work for the Muslims in this country
Something tells me this won't be ther last abduction of Americans that will happen in Egypt. Now that it's under Islamist rule things will start turning radical very quickly. And, despite warnings to the contrary, people will still go over where they are hated in denial.
'De 'Nile ain't a river in Egypt!
bedoins have been kidnapping tourists in egypt for awhile now. No matter who was running egypt, bedoins will be grabbing tourists.
"The route is a frequent target by Bedouins who abduct tourists to pressure police to meet their demands, which is usually to release a detained relative they say has been unjustly arrested."
Stay their asses home, would be my answer to this. They dont like us, nor do they want us there. Why folks who obviously read news papers, watch tv, or listen to the radio, etc, act like there is nothing going wrong there, cant see the danger they put themselves, civilians & those who look for/or try to rescue them into danger. We are stupid, cant see anything but what we want. Well they have other ideas, and folks better get it through their heads. It is their country, their problems are their own to solve. We have no business even being there, right now. Those folks are fighting their government, themselves and all the other yahoos running around with guns. The law should be; you go there, you get in trouble, well you are on your own. Your choice, your problem. Stay the hell out of there.
My exact sentiments as stated in my post above.(#4) Some people are just terminally stupid and can't help themselves so we will continue repeating this headline over and over.
Hey Egypt, if you want our money money, release our people honey honey. (At lleast be nice until After you get our tax $$$!
Seriously though, I guess Egypt used to be a beautiful place to visit. Not so much anymore.And it's not like a lot of viners, including myself didn't see this very thing happening (MB) even as "Arab Spring" was first starting and happening. (US supplying arms and military). I do not see all these things as coincidence or just happening.
.
"The route is a frequent target by Bedouins who abduct tourists to pressure police to meet their demands, which is usually to release a detained relative they say has been unjustly arrested."
has nothing to do with the arab spring.
And these guys could care less about american aid to the military. Whether we give it or not, they'll still be abducting tourists.
There are certain places you just don't go to and things you do not do.
1) Considering the US reputation in the ME no one is safe there. Stay Away!
2) Africa is a hotbed of pirates and violence. Every day here is a new civil war there. Stay away!
3) Alabama doesn't like Yankees or blacks. if you have an Obama sticker on your cars bumper along with NY plates, you will get shot at. Stay Away!
4) Between the drugs and the violence, Mexico is a dangerous place. Stay Away!
5) Iran doesn't like anyone they don't control and are looking for international leverage in any way they can. Stay Away!
Look, if you go to a pace that doesn't like Americans ... if you go to a place that for what ever reason, won't like you then Stay Away! Its just common sense people.
Exactly, Mike! I couldn't agree more, and Black folk used to have enough common sense to avoid those dangerous locations. Too much assimilation...:-) I'm glad they're free, though.
Here's another one for the US...
Don't get caught in compromising positions that can make their way to a member of The Church of Scientology or you'll be blackmailed into being a member for life.
They are lucky they still have their heads......
why? these are bedoins, not islamic terrorists. "Abducted tourists are rarely harmed and usually released within days."
With cameljackings on the rise, it's getting where you can't even wander the desert and feel safe. I also read somewhere recently that by wearing a cowboy hat and cowboy boots, you are much less likely to be kidnapped in a foreign country. Go figure.
I used to want to travel to far away places like Egypt but I think I am going to wait. The United States is so diverse, why not just travel and see the various beautiful views on the home field right? They don't like me, they don't want me and I am ok with that. I am also OK spending my money here also!
I hear that vermont is a great place to visit. I'll take your money...and won't kidnap you either!
Just a word of advice to those in Egypt who benefit from the tourist industry: Kidnapping tourists is bad for business.
dont be so stuipid to go over in Egypt again, you lucky they let you guys off. People that live over there when they left they dont look back.
"...the route is a frequent target by Bedouins who abduct tourists to pressure police to meet their demands, which is usually to release a detained relative they say has been unjustly arrested."
So much of the planet is really still just a third-world toilet, and I don't mean entirely the living conditions but truly because the government and the citizens as well seem to have no desire to be a nation and people of laws.
Good advice. I have no sympathy for anyone stupid enough to put their selfish wants before others safety. behinds, home. Tired of folks putting the US in a trick box, going to countries in the middle of crisis. Then we got to negotiate your freedom.
Yeah, we are free Americans, so you are free to get captured, tortured & even killed. So dont come crying about rescue, you brainles twits.
Tourism is way way down from a couple-three years back for a reason. Even in the good times travel as an American with your valuable American passport can be a personal risk in too many areas of the world, including much of Asia and some of Europe. Be very careful if planning travel - though you miss "authentic experiences," group travel can be of less risk. I received notice from my daughter yesterday asking for prayers for a college friend who is on mission in southern Africa. They, of necessity, travel with body guards and have guards for living compounds. This is not due to anti-American sentiment in the local general population as much as it is due to the "Americans have money", or are perceived to have money or valuables. The local populations are effectively held ransom for the cut in aide that is ostensibly for the benefit of those who do have very genuine needs for adequate water, food, clothing and health care. These are genuine needs and please do not neglect those who have been trapped in these circumstances, but, do be diligent when giving. Be very careful when traveling to these same areas.
Obama probably promised to give the Egyptians a few Billion more. He's REALLY working the Black vote. If he says different it is just another lie to add to the list he already has. LIAR........................
FYI- Egypt is predom. arabic. They don't consider themselves "black" or "african".
Egyptians arn't black, MORON!!! They're the color of Jesus!
As you know the CIA's work.....errrr uuhh the LORDS WORK!, is never done.
Travelling with a group? Where were the others in his group? Was the other person taken the translator?
Knowing the unrest and the threat of possible kidnapping, why do these go where they shouldn't? Like the missionaries who went to the waters off Somalia and got killed by pirates. How could this happen. If you are doing God's work, I am sure He doesn't want you to get yourself killed.
"missionaries who went to the waters off Somalia"
My friends Jean and Scot Adam were NOT missionaries... they, and their two sailing companions, were sailors trying to get home via the Suez Canal. Jean was a retired dentist, Scott still worked in the film industry and, yes, they were both Christians. One of their sailing companions was a veterinarian for the zoo in Seattle.
You don't know anything about my friends or about the 19 Somalis that decided to get a boat and guns and sail over 600 nm to attack and hold for ransom anyone they came across in international waters. The Somalis didn't think it through and, when faced by the USS Enterprise, panicked, shot each other and murdered 4 American citizens who were minding their own business in International waters.
The end of this stupidity is that, rather than enforce Maritime Law and hang the 15 remaining Somalis on the spot, one was released due to his age and 14 others were transported back to the US where we (the American citizens) are now supporting them - including 3 and a cot and all medical, dental and vision care they need for the rest of their sorry lives. (More care and food than some of our own citizens get.)
Irony - these scum pirates murdered Jean the dentist and get free dental care for life.
Sammy, so sorry for your friends....WTF is wrong with our government?? These pirates should be given capital punishment, and made an example of.....we as the USA are too willing to give into compromise and we, the citizens, suffer for that.
Good news! Thankful for that and Hillary's intervention. We have an awesome Secretary of State!
Ditto
Where in the heck did you pull that out of? Oh wait. I think I know. Where in the article did it say that Hillary intervened? Did you just wake up from a bad dream during a nap or what?
Who cares who got involved??? Angry bitter people because a hostage (black man) was released? Wtf is wrong with you stupid a$$ people... And you wonder why they hate us in other countries. I would hate someone racist and stupid too!
Yea right Hillary is so good but not as good as Monica(l) according to Bill . She couldn't control her husband how can she be expected to control anything less than a fart?
Really stupid people over there--guess they don't have much interest in the tourist trade. Cruse ships on the Nile to the pyramids, Valley of the Kings. Lot of " Jesus" locations in that part of the world. I'd turn it all into "Mummyland" and make a ton of $$$ off tourists. I'd pay $100 to ride a camel around a pyramid.
IMPASS l) They are US Citizens
2) They are not originally from that nation
3) They were probably real tourist
NOTE the Mt Climbers...and others whom our nation even got the Clintons to assist them: were dual citizens and from the nation they were arrested in--good luck on this one!
NOTHING has even been done to find those who B E H E A D E D our US Military either
Then we have the issue of EGYPT already has USA Tax dollars ...so that is a dead issue...
The Black Muslim Brotherhood is being supported by us dba the USA: workers, taxpayers and diminishing everything except Open Borders Crminal Illegal ALien Invaders aka NUMBERS USA ~welcomed and rewarded.
This is great news, but dealing with kidnappers of any type and then giving in to their demands only enboldens them to do it again.
But I am happy the the Rev has been released.
Going to the Middle East when you are a christian cleric? That's crazy!!!!! Next time go to Cape Cod, the worst they will do to you is overcharge you.
It was said that they were tourists, but if they were there trying to convert Muslims to christianity, then they are lucky not to have been beheaded, and they would have deserved it.