Any details on the explosions at the Istanbul Airport?
Jun 29th, 2016, 04:11 AM
#21
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually I posted on US forum about Orlando and wAs surprised to get only a few answers.
And nothing from US posters.
So actually on this forum the only guy who offered sympathies for Orlando is an European.
Not that it proves we are better but it proves we are not worse.
And nothing from US posters.
So actually on this forum the only guy who offered sympathies for Orlando is an European.
Not that it proves we are better but it proves we are not worse.
Jun 29th, 2016, 04:43 AM
#23
I didn't see the Orlando post, but I spend very little time on the US board. I don't live in a US tourist destination and I rarely travel in the US. I certainly didn't need to go there to find out about Orlando. But, of course, it was devastating and inexcusable. And we still can't get gun reform....
Jun 29th, 2016, 07:00 AM
#25
I think the Orlando post dropped to the bottom quickly so didn't see but at least whathello did post. Appreciate that. So surprised the airport is back up and running so quickly this morning. Being a ticket agent has to be very stressful right now. They are right there and people still stop and park right outside the departure and arrival areas sometimes leaving their cars unattended. I see this changing. What can security do? I am not sure but won't find me hanging around longer than need be. They know international travelers must check in and there are always long lines. Huge sitting targets.
Jun 29th, 2016, 09:34 AM
#26
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was flying from the other airport in Istanbul : the one in Asia or very clsoe : Sabiha Gokcen, not Ataturk. So our only problem was chaos in the air. I heard that the airport at Ataturk was operating but don't have first hand info. From my colleague living there, the explosions happened at the first check - outside the terminal. So damage to the infrastructure must be minimized.
Casualties, however remained quite high...
So I came home early, because my flight being late I didn't go to the office. Instead I went to see my mother - she is buried very close to Brussels airport and from there home.
Repaired the flat tyre of my daughter's bike and have put Champagne in the fridge. My wife just arrived, so I'll leave you and drink with her (and the older daughter).
If we need a reminder that we have only one life... so let us make the most of it !
Casualties, however remained quite high...
So I came home early, because my flight being late I didn't go to the office. Instead I went to see my mother - she is buried very close to Brussels airport and from there home.
Repaired the flat tyre of my daughter's bike and have put Champagne in the fridge. My wife just arrived, so I'll leave you and drink with her (and the older daughter).
If we need a reminder that we have only one life... so let us make the most of it !
Jun 29th, 2016, 02:06 PM
#28
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I live near San Bernardino and wondered about the lack of comments last December. It got me thinking and it seems to me that Paris has millions of visitors and some people(myself included) feel really attached to Paris. There was a more personal emotional reaction among many of us when so many people were killed in the city we love. It's not that we don't grieve for Istanbul, Brussels, Orlando or San Bernardino but we don't feel it on the same level.
Sadly it looks like these attacks are going to become a new "normal".
Sadly it looks like these attacks are going to become a new "normal".
Jun 29th, 2016, 02:15 PM
#29
Sorry for appearing here late, and thanks for all your concern and well wishes.
We arrived in Chicago last Friday.
I think most people living in very large cities in Europe, Middle East and North America and traveling nationally and internationally are facing this type of danger more and more everyday.
Whether ugly debates/arguments and hate speeches started before the prevalent violence or as a result of violence and terrorism is not clear. But the World is getting to be a worse place than it was since World War II.
Both Turkey and United States are to be blamed in allowing ISIS to be born. The Arab Spring, The Great Middle East and North Africa Project, the so-called "Moderate Islam" idea were instrumental.
Getting rid of Gaddafi in Libya and attempting to eliminate Assad in Syria were the worst two actions taken.
Supporting Erdogan who had 'The New Ottoman Empire" and "The New Khalifate" as his target believing in the incredibly naive "moderate islam" view was more than naive; just totally ignorant.
This all supported the Moslem Brotherhood from which Al Nusra, other Al Qaida offshoots and finally ISIS rose.
Turkey and the absurd "coalition" supported all the extremist islamic activists against Assad in Syria, giving them weapons, ammunition and training; allowing Circassians, Chechens, Afghans, Libyans and European islamists into Syria through almost 600 miles of border from Turkey.
By the time US realised the mistake, it was too late. ISIS was established in Turkey and had a number of threats against it which the Turkish government could not fight until very recently.
Even now, I can visualise some Turkish politicians and voters within the ruling AKP supporters who continue to support the violent actions of ISIS.
The Turkish president continues to blame the West for everything and belittling his critics and domestic opponents as atheists, zoroastrians, shiites, alevites. One AKP deputy stated in congress that 'anyone who does not pray five times a day is an animal.'
In the meantime, five thousand well trained albeit possibly most FG supporting police and intelligence personnel have been neutralized.
Under the circumstances, it is quite normal that what happened would happen
time and time again and not only in Turkey.
Only final solution would be to dry all risky regions from arms and ammunition.
This is an impossibility because so many people define their masculinity and freedom in terms of the guns they can access and because so many people make so much money in manufacturing, selling, trading and stealing arms and ammunition.
If you have the time to read the three past annual threads on Turkey, you can actually see this sort or situation developing.
Yesterday, I was tweeting and then became very depressed and stopped writing. Then, again, this morning, I received a message that my 17 year old running consultancy contract was terminated.
So double the depression.
It is a wonder I could write the above. But life as we do not wish to know it still continues, and otherchelebi will write again and again.
Flowers aren't all female, nor are they in the song, #WhereHaveAllTheFlowersGone. This is timely after #IST bombing: http://media.wix.com/ugd/0e1680_19bb...27487c8388.pdf …
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 9h9 hours ago
Is growth of violent #PoliticalIslamism due to #globalization, #internet, #NationalRifleAssociation, #EU, #GrennhouseEffect, or #Aliens?
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 22h22 hours ago
#Arrivals entries at #IST are in the middle # far from exits. Most casualties would be personnel & customers at local services & welcomers.
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 23h23 hours ago
#Istanbul #ISISattack body count now over 40 dead & 245 injured. Apparently arrivals hall was exposed to security check area for welcomers.
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler Jun 28
#IstanbulAirport fewer casualties due to perpetrators' premature action after awareness of police suspicion & pursuit. #ISIS suspected.
shooting & suicide bombers at #carpark & #entrancetoterminalby 3 suspects.
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler Jun 28
3 Terrorists, marine gun fire, two suicide bombs and possibly grenades at Istanbul Ataturk airport Int'l departures entrance and car park.
We arrived in Chicago last Friday.
I think most people living in very large cities in Europe, Middle East and North America and traveling nationally and internationally are facing this type of danger more and more everyday.
Whether ugly debates/arguments and hate speeches started before the prevalent violence or as a result of violence and terrorism is not clear. But the World is getting to be a worse place than it was since World War II.
Both Turkey and United States are to be blamed in allowing ISIS to be born. The Arab Spring, The Great Middle East and North Africa Project, the so-called "Moderate Islam" idea were instrumental.
Getting rid of Gaddafi in Libya and attempting to eliminate Assad in Syria were the worst two actions taken.
Supporting Erdogan who had 'The New Ottoman Empire" and "The New Khalifate" as his target believing in the incredibly naive "moderate islam" view was more than naive; just totally ignorant.
This all supported the Moslem Brotherhood from which Al Nusra, other Al Qaida offshoots and finally ISIS rose.
Turkey and the absurd "coalition" supported all the extremist islamic activists against Assad in Syria, giving them weapons, ammunition and training; allowing Circassians, Chechens, Afghans, Libyans and European islamists into Syria through almost 600 miles of border from Turkey.
By the time US realised the mistake, it was too late. ISIS was established in Turkey and had a number of threats against it which the Turkish government could not fight until very recently.
Even now, I can visualise some Turkish politicians and voters within the ruling AKP supporters who continue to support the violent actions of ISIS.
The Turkish president continues to blame the West for everything and belittling his critics and domestic opponents as atheists, zoroastrians, shiites, alevites. One AKP deputy stated in congress that 'anyone who does not pray five times a day is an animal.'
In the meantime, five thousand well trained albeit possibly most FG supporting police and intelligence personnel have been neutralized.
Under the circumstances, it is quite normal that what happened would happen
time and time again and not only in Turkey.
Only final solution would be to dry all risky regions from arms and ammunition.
This is an impossibility because so many people define their masculinity and freedom in terms of the guns they can access and because so many people make so much money in manufacturing, selling, trading and stealing arms and ammunition.
If you have the time to read the three past annual threads on Turkey, you can actually see this sort or situation developing.
Yesterday, I was tweeting and then became very depressed and stopped writing. Then, again, this morning, I received a message that my 17 year old running consultancy contract was terminated.
So double the depression.
It is a wonder I could write the above. But life as we do not wish to know it still continues, and otherchelebi will write again and again.
Flowers aren't all female, nor are they in the song, #WhereHaveAllTheFlowersGone. This is timely after #IST bombing: http://media.wix.com/ugd/0e1680_19bb...27487c8388.pdf …
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 9h9 hours ago
Is growth of violent #PoliticalIslamism due to #globalization, #internet, #NationalRifleAssociation, #EU, #GrennhouseEffect, or #Aliens?
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 22h22 hours ago
#Arrivals entries at #IST are in the middle # far from exits. Most casualties would be personnel & customers at local services & welcomers.
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 23h23 hours ago
#Istanbul #ISISattack body count now over 40 dead & 245 injured. Apparently arrivals hall was exposed to security check area for welcomers.
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler Jun 28
#IstanbulAirport fewer casualties due to perpetrators' premature action after awareness of police suspicion & pursuit. #ISIS suspected.
shooting & suicide bombers at #carpark & #entrancetoterminalby 3 suspects.
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler Jun 28
3 Terrorists, marine gun fire, two suicide bombs and possibly grenades at Istanbul Ataturk airport Int'l departures entrance and car park.
Jun 29th, 2016, 02:47 PM
#31
There were so many heroes and brave people that rescued others. I saw a picture and it was from the Daily Mail, went and looked at the others, very haunting and just so soon after Orlando for me. I worked for many years at an airport, the ticket agents feel very vulnerable out front like that.
I must say the pictures of the funerals already today have to be so hard. You don't have time to process it all and the funeral is within 24 hours.
otherchelebi on Jun 29, 16 at 6:15pm I am so sorry about your double whammy today. I also loved your "where have all the flowers gone"
I don't want us to become numb to this.
Getting rid of Gaddafi in Libya and attempting to eliminate Assad in Syria were the worst two actions taken. I agree, they were horrible but look what we have now. Same with Iraq.
I must say the pictures of the funerals already today have to be so hard. You don't have time to process it all and the funeral is within 24 hours.
otherchelebi on Jun 29, 16 at 6:15pm I am so sorry about your double whammy today. I also loved your "where have all the flowers gone"
I don't want us to become numb to this.
Getting rid of Gaddafi in Libya and attempting to eliminate Assad in Syria were the worst two actions taken. I agree, they were horrible but look what we have now. Same with Iraq.
Jun 29th, 2016, 09:13 PM
#32
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 7,960
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just found this post.. and I am actually sitting in living room watching CNN and BBC right now.. its covering this horrific event continually.
I don't think we need to compare.. because forums are not visited equally.. consider the forum traffic on the France forum versus the Turkey forum.. so more people just saw the Paris postings.. I do not think that means anything about how people feel about these damm terror events..
I myself tend to anger more than grief.. that's just me though.. I am of course sad about all the innocent loss of life, but really I just want to kill these aholes before they get a chance to cowardly kill themselves.
As for the Orlando incident.. I almost never ever even go on the American forums.. and spend more time and FB and trust me .. I had and have plenty to say about that attack..
I don't think we need to compare.. because forums are not visited equally.. consider the forum traffic on the France forum versus the Turkey forum.. so more people just saw the Paris postings.. I do not think that means anything about how people feel about these damm terror events..
I myself tend to anger more than grief.. that's just me though.. I am of course sad about all the innocent loss of life, but really I just want to kill these aholes before they get a chance to cowardly kill themselves.
As for the Orlando incident.. I almost never ever even go on the American forums.. and spend more time and FB and trust me .. I had and have plenty to say about that attack..
Jun 30th, 2016, 05:16 AM
#35
I have never been to that part of the world but seeing the pictures and hearing the testimonials of those that were there make me very sad. I hate how commonplace all these tragedies are becoming. I too have watched a lot of this unfold on CNN. Thank you for your descriptive post otherchelebi, I'm sorry this happened to your country.
Jun 30th, 2016, 05:25 AM
#36
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,337
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad you are safe OC. This makes me so sad. Turkey was one of my favorite trips and I daydream about it daily. I'm so sorry it's happening in your country where the people I met were the nicest anywhere.
Jun 30th, 2016, 07:32 AM
#38
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello
I post a mail that I received - I find the advice about paying attention to some dates extremely useful.
Best regards.
Due to a record of past terrorist attacks in Turkey and a continuing threat from both transnational and indigenous groups, the threat level for the possibility of further terrorist attacks remains critical.
You are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase your security awareness. You should follow local news sources during your stay to remain abreast of any potential areas, dates, or times of concern. Exercise caution and good judgment, keep a low profile, and remain vigilant with regard to your personal security.
You should minimise time spent around potential targets for attack, including government and military interests, Western diplomatic missions and places commonly frequented by Westerners such as tourist sites, shopping malls and entertainment areas. Personnel should give wide berth to protests and seek indoor shelter immediately in the event of unrest nearby.
Significant dates and anniversaries are symbolic and terrorists have in the past used such occasions to mount attacks. Exercise particular care in the period surrounding significant dates including: 15 February (anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan's capture), 21 March (Nevruz, Persian New Year celebrations), 30 March (founding of Revolutionary People’s Liberation Front (DHKP/C)), 4 April (Abdullah Öcalan's birthday), 1 May (May Day), 15 August (anniversary of Kurdistan Workers' Party's first attack), 27 November (anniversary of the founding of the Kurdish independence group, PKK) and 19 December (also a significant date for DHKP/C).
The danger zones defined are related with past incidents and actual threats. However, we remind you incidents might occur anywhere, therefore no places could be considered secured. Vigilance is always required.
I post a mail that I received - I find the advice about paying attention to some dates extremely useful.
Best regards.
Due to a record of past terrorist attacks in Turkey and a continuing threat from both transnational and indigenous groups, the threat level for the possibility of further terrorist attacks remains critical.
You are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase your security awareness. You should follow local news sources during your stay to remain abreast of any potential areas, dates, or times of concern. Exercise caution and good judgment, keep a low profile, and remain vigilant with regard to your personal security.
You should minimise time spent around potential targets for attack, including government and military interests, Western diplomatic missions and places commonly frequented by Westerners such as tourist sites, shopping malls and entertainment areas. Personnel should give wide berth to protests and seek indoor shelter immediately in the event of unrest nearby.
Significant dates and anniversaries are symbolic and terrorists have in the past used such occasions to mount attacks. Exercise particular care in the period surrounding significant dates including: 15 February (anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan's capture), 21 March (Nevruz, Persian New Year celebrations), 30 March (founding of Revolutionary People’s Liberation Front (DHKP/C)), 4 April (Abdullah Öcalan's birthday), 1 May (May Day), 15 August (anniversary of Kurdistan Workers' Party's first attack), 27 November (anniversary of the founding of the Kurdish independence group, PKK) and 19 December (also a significant date for DHKP/C).
The danger zones defined are related with past incidents and actual threats. However, we remind you incidents might occur anywhere, therefore no places could be considered secured. Vigilance is always required.
Jun 30th, 2016, 10:14 AM
#39
OC - I am so terribly sorry to about what happened in Istanbul and received that you and yours are safe. You too, Whathello.
OC, your analysis of the causes of our current woes is as ever spot on:
<<By the time US realised the mistake, it was too late. ISIS was established in Turkey and had a number of threats against it which the Turkish government could not fight until very recently.>>
To this I would add the comment that you would have thought that after the same thing happened with the Taliban, they would have learnt their lesson.
OC, your analysis of the causes of our current woes is as ever spot on:
<<By the time US realised the mistake, it was too late. ISIS was established in Turkey and had a number of threats against it which the Turkish government could not fight until very recently.>>
To this I would add the comment that you would have thought that after the same thing happened with the Taliban, they would have learnt their lesson.
