[kamilia]

I talked to two different people in different neighborhoods in Cairo a few hours after it happened; but I wouldn't have found out about it if I hadn't checked out The Times! No one knew about it for a while, maybe because of the lack of a response?

The problem with many police officers there is the way they got into the force: because of a family member or a bribe. These individuals don't join because they want to be police officers; they seem to be motivated by pay and job security, in addition to the universally appealing power trip. There is no motivation for these types to help out in a crisis. Police forces aren't perfect anywhere, and it's hard to get a good job in Egypt, but the Egyptian force's inefficacy was incredible last weekend.

There are so many neighborhoods in need of basic repair, but then I hear on BBC this week that there is a special initiative to refurbish the classic European buildings in Cairo. I guess they'll eventually get to low-income neighborhoods...

I agree that there is a lot a traveler can contribute while in Egypt; whether through organized charitable networks or through personal action.