Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!military
From: military@cbnews.ATT.COM (William B. Thacker)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Caves, military use of
Message-ID: <10088@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 11 Oct 89 02:44:09 GMT
Organization: AT&T HRISO, Morristown, NJ
Lines: 27
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: att!shuxd!merkel (Tom Merkel)
While on a visit to Egypt a few years back I was taken up
onto a ridge which ran out into the desert from Cairo.
I believe it is known as Mokhattam ( sp? ),  the road starts
near the quarry used to build the pyramids.

This area was being opened for commercial exploitation
after years of use as a military reservation.  There were
many caves,  side roads which disappeared from sight,  abandoned
emplacements,  and other signs of excavation and subterranean use.
I was told by my host,  a former officer,  that at one time this
ridge was used to store a large part of Egyptian ammo, fuel,
and vehicles underground and secure from air attack.  The area 
had been off limits to civilians until after the peace with Israel,  
at which time it was demilitarized.  I was told that at its
peak the complex extended for miles into the desert.  I saw an
area of a few miles length along the main road that had
obviously been used for military purposes.  Its probably
covered with condos and villas now.

-Tom


---
Tom Merkel 	att!shuxd!merkel 	(201)898-3547  	eschew obfuscation