Nine tourists killed at mountain base camp in Kashmir

[DreamGypsy]

32. Personally? No.

Mountain climbing is not one of my passions.

For better or worse, guiding provides a livelihood for many people in mountainous areas. As various countries have developed middle and upper classes that can afford 'hobbies' like climbing, tour companies have become an important part of the economy in some regions.

The Ukrainian, Russian, and Chinese governments probably do not recommend that their citizens look at U.S. State Department warnings about threats to U.S citizens. Did the tour company alert their customers to possible risks? I don't know, but if it was a U.S. company it certainly would have required indemnity against the consequences. I expect many of the businesses in Pakistan to not face the same legal issues that are experienced in the U.S.

The tour company was doing what it does. The eight climbers and the guide were apparently adults who should have been aware of the risks they were taking. Did those who died show bad judgement? In retrospect it's easy to say yes.

Did the U.S. show bad judgement establishing a drone program that kills civilians as well as other targets in a country with which the U.S. is not at war? In retrospect ....


ps: I think the guiding/climbing fad causes significant environment and social problems in many cases. However, given the havoc that we wreak on the environment in the U.S., it's difficult to take a strong moral stand on the issue.