Radar Loses Cruise Ship In Red Sea Carrying 1,300 Passengers

***UPDATED***

Early reports from ABC news are that a cruise ship carrying 1300 passengers has disappeared from radar in the Red Sea off the Saudi coast.

At this point we do not know all of the passengers but it is reported that many of them might be pilgrims returning from the hajj to Mecca.

This is a horrible event. I'm certain that Christians from around the world are doing as I am and praying for the safety of the passengers and for the comfort of their families.

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If this had been a boatload of Jews or Christians, the Muslims would be dancing in the streets of Gaza and screaming "Allah Akbar!"

Just a little perspective there.

Update: 11:00 pm.

With help from The Religion of Peace, the Investors.com writers have an important question to ask. Do those floundering Muslims, men, women and children, living on their last gasps of air, arms flailing and aching in desperation for another chance at life, really care whether or not the hands that might lift them to safety could belong to a Jew or an American?

After Friday evening's sinking of the Salaam 98 on its way from the western Saudi Arabian port of Dubah to Safaga in Egypt, 120 miles across the Red Sea, Egypt refused offers of search and rescue assistance from the Israeli navy. Hundreds of passengers were still missing after four Egyptian frigates arrived.

According to reports, the passenger load of 1,415 was 20% more than the maximum allowed on board. Some of the passengers were apparently returning from the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Since so many were still missing, Egypt can't say that its efforts to save people aboard were adequate and no outside assistance was necessary. So why say no to Israel's able help?

Were there fears that massive safety violations would be exposed, embarrassing the government? Were there worries about being shown up by the Israeli military?

Maybe the spectacle of Israel saving the lives of Arabs would contradict some of the anti-Semitic propaganda being taught in Saudi elementary schools. Or maybe it was just plain, old-fashioned hatred toward the Jews: Better to die than be involved with them.

Whatever the motivation of Egypt's behavior, almost anywhere else in the world such a tragedy would be met with unquestioned international cooperation. A maritime disaster endangering the lives of more than 1,400 men, women and children is not the time for politics, or ethnic tribalism.

The problem is, of course, that the only ones willing to even hear these compelling questions are non-Muslim. The Muslims have more important things to worry about, like whether or not some Dane has used a crayon inappropriately, or whether or not Burger King might have an ice cream label that looks (when you squint your eyes and allow them to blur over) quite similar to the Arabic character for Allah.

Sans these horrific battles of sensibility, I'm certain the Muslims would come on board. Well, I mean that figuratively.