Visiting Turkey for Fun and Adventure, Oasis or Chaos
Mar 13th, 2016, 10:07 AM
#261
Another bomb in Ankara.
Location is a busy area for commuters, smack at city center. Also some government offices.
No details available regarding damage.
Media ban immediately in place regarding photographs or video.
Relatives who live about ten miles away said their home shook with the explosion.
Twitter down.
Will go to laptop for private IP address to get int'l and/or restricted by government info.
All friends and relatives safe.
Location is a busy area for commuters, smack at city center. Also some government offices.
No details available regarding damage.
Media ban immediately in place regarding photographs or video.
Relatives who live about ten miles away said their home shook with the explosion.
Twitter down.
Will go to laptop for private IP address to get int'l and/or restricted by government info.
All friends and relatives safe.
Mar 13th, 2016, 10:49 AM
#265
Thanks,
It is interesting that United States Embassy published warning almost three days ago but specifying a different location.
(Was the target location changed after this semi-public announcement?)
I am now using a VPN and can check Twitter and write there.
Just two days ago Erdogan stated that "Islamic State cannot be where he is present" Was this a response to his false bravado?
No matter what the official statements will say, I am almost certain that this is an IS, Al-Nusrah or Assad or Russian perpetrated atrocity and not a Kurdish one. Of'course, the subcontractor may be of any type of background.
It is interesting that United States Embassy published warning almost three days ago but specifying a different location.
(Was the target location changed after this semi-public announcement?)
I am now using a VPN and can check Twitter and write there.
Just two days ago Erdogan stated that "Islamic State cannot be where he is present" Was this a response to his false bravado?
No matter what the official statements will say, I am almost certain that this is an IS, Al-Nusrah or Assad or Russian perpetrated atrocity and not a Kurdish one. Of'course, the subcontractor may be of any type of background.
Mar 13th, 2016, 11:42 AM
#266
No matter what the official statements will say, I am almost certain that this is an IS, Al-Nusrah or Assad or Russian perpetrated atrocity and not a Kurdish one. Of'course, the subcontractor may be of any type of background.>>
is it likely that the public will ever know?
both sides spin such atrocities for their own benefit - by which I mean IS and the Turkish government.
So sad for those caught in the middle.
Glad that you and yours are safe - please do your best to remain so.
is it likely that the public will ever know?
both sides spin such atrocities for their own benefit - by which I mean IS and the Turkish government.
So sad for those caught in the middle.
Glad that you and yours are safe - please do your best to remain so.
Mar 13th, 2016, 02:04 PM
#267
United States Embassy stated that they had the original information from turkish security forces.
Latest body count is 34 dead, 125 injured.
Here's my popular tweet of the last few hours :
"Will #Ankara police chief, Min. of Interior & Director of Intelligence get award, medal or just honorable mention after recent bomb?"
Latest body count is 34 dead, 125 injured.
Here's my popular tweet of the last few hours :
"Will #Ankara police chief, Min. of Interior & Director of Intelligence get award, medal or just honorable mention after recent bomb?"
Mar 16th, 2016, 03:20 AM
#269
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I see on Hurriyet that an Istanbul court arrested three Turkish academics yesterday for “making terrorist propaganda”. Better watch your back, OC. As the State increasingly imperils free-speech what is next -the thought police?
Mar 16th, 2016, 06:37 AM
#270
APBaron,
Mine is not a good example of "Free Speech". My DW controls all my thoughts and writing. The few occasions when she relinguishes her grasp my daughters pick up the slack Immediately.
Therefore, I am not responsible for what I write or even think. Fortunately, I can still move around, drive, escort them, cook for them and even compliment them (mostly under duress) and hence, I have not been institutionalized yet.
Mine is not a good example of "Free Speech". My DW controls all my thoughts and writing. The few occasions when she relinguishes her grasp my daughters pick up the slack Immediately.
Therefore, I am not responsible for what I write or even think. Fortunately, I can still move around, drive, escort them, cook for them and even compliment them (mostly under duress) and hence, I have not been institutionalized yet.
Mar 19th, 2016, 06:21 AM
#272
Another suicide bomb. This time in Istanbul on very busy istiklal Street, very close to the district governor's office.
4 dead, 36 wounded, 4-11 critical. Twelve foreigners identified, Israeli, Irish, Iranian. No Americans or Canadians as far as nedia reports go.
No friends or family mainly because we have been staying away from risky areas. Eser and I actually drove to Iznik yesterday afternoon.
I do not know what to say to potential visitors, any more.
The Turkish government is pushing it towards more violence while talking of a joint front against this terrorism, meaning government terrorism against all usual suspects including most Kurds, academics, media, critics, human rights activists.
Disappointingly the opposition, except for HDP, is also speaking of violent responses, despite five Southeastern Turkish cities completely or partially destroyed by Turkish tanks, cannon, even air strikes.
Possibly two hundred thousand or so inhabitants have had to leave the area where countless civilians and children have been killed, schools have been closed for months and there has been no medical service, water or electricity.
If you consider these people who are left destitute, homeless, with no jobs, no shops, no children sometimes, and their families and friends and others in potentially similar circumstances in the region, you can see the size of the pool for future terrorism and violence against the government and their supporters.
How can anyone in his right mind believe that this group of people will disappear as you continue killing and leaving homeless, jobless, hungry, destitute indiscriminately?
4 dead, 36 wounded, 4-11 critical. Twelve foreigners identified, Israeli, Irish, Iranian. No Americans or Canadians as far as nedia reports go.
No friends or family mainly because we have been staying away from risky areas. Eser and I actually drove to Iznik yesterday afternoon.
I do not know what to say to potential visitors, any more.
The Turkish government is pushing it towards more violence while talking of a joint front against this terrorism, meaning government terrorism against all usual suspects including most Kurds, academics, media, critics, human rights activists.
Disappointingly the opposition, except for HDP, is also speaking of violent responses, despite five Southeastern Turkish cities completely or partially destroyed by Turkish tanks, cannon, even air strikes.
Possibly two hundred thousand or so inhabitants have had to leave the area where countless civilians and children have been killed, schools have been closed for months and there has been no medical service, water or electricity.
If you consider these people who are left destitute, homeless, with no jobs, no shops, no children sometimes, and their families and friends and others in potentially similar circumstances in the region, you can see the size of the pool for future terrorism and violence against the government and their supporters.
How can anyone in his right mind believe that this group of people will disappear as you continue killing and leaving homeless, jobless, hungry, destitute indiscriminately?
Mar 19th, 2016, 08:09 AM
#274
I am so sorry about what is happening in Turkey, a country I have been happy to visit four times over the years. (The first was 1974, things have changed so much since then.) It is hard to see how the situation will improve with the current people in power.
However, if Istiklal Street is now considered a risky area, I cannot regret my decision not to visit this year.
However, if Istiklal Street is now considered a risky area, I cannot regret my decision not to visit this year.
Mar 19th, 2016, 08:14 AM
#275
so sorry about the latest developments, OC. as you imply, the situation doesn't look as if it's going to get better any time soon.
What is your view about the "deal" with the EU? Personally I find the idea of "legal" and "illegal" refugees repugnant, though perhaps sitting in the far west of Britain that's easier for me to say than someone on Lesbos. Those returned to Turkey [and just HOW are they going to do that?] are not going to go quietly are they?
Like you I fear that there will be many more recruits to the ranks of the terrorists.
What is your view about the "deal" with the EU? Personally I find the idea of "legal" and "illegal" refugees repugnant, though perhaps sitting in the far west of Britain that's easier for me to say than someone on Lesbos. Those returned to Turkey [and just HOW are they going to do that?] are not going to go quietly are they?
Like you I fear that there will be many more recruits to the ranks of the terrorists.
Mar 19th, 2016, 12:28 PM
#277
Annhig,
The "deal" with EU is repugnant in a number of ways. Negotiating on lives of humans as cattle seems to be quite respectable for many Europeans and at least one American presidential wishful. Appearing to bow down to demands of wily ME aotocrats is also repugnant but has been popular for a long time. remember Kaddafi, Kings of Saudi Arabia and others.
The deal seems to be that EU will send back some refugees and receive others in equal numbers. Turkey will receive some funds to expedite this exchange and has also been promised free travel to EU and faster full membership but with the proviso that Turkey finalize 72 changes regarding democracy, opinion and speech freedom.
Turkey will not take the democratic measures and will accuse EU for not delivering to gain more domestic support for the autocracy. But they will take the 3-6 Billion euros to partially use it to move Syrian refugees to areas abandoned by the Kurds they attacked in Southeastern Turkey.
Latest info on today's bombing is that it was most probably an Islamic State bomb targeting a group of Israeli tourists. Of the four dead, three are Israeli and one Iranian. Details on the now 39 injured is not yet released except that 6-7 may be in critical condition.
The streets are empty over most of Istanbul.
We had a beautifully wood grilled medium rare filet of lamb tonight presented by the president of our Social Club. Tomorrow, I will get the materials for the cook to make a Thai-Italian-Turkish fusion hot spinach salad and eight hour roasted short ribs for our table of twelve at the Darka restaurant. We shall eat while wathching my (and Eser's) football (soccer) team beat their traditional rivals.
This is terrible. We are getting accustomed to living amidst all this violence.
Who knows, We may stay the full length of our visa in Chicago after we arrive late June, if our tenant does not renew his lease.
The "deal" with EU is repugnant in a number of ways. Negotiating on lives of humans as cattle seems to be quite respectable for many Europeans and at least one American presidential wishful. Appearing to bow down to demands of wily ME aotocrats is also repugnant but has been popular for a long time. remember Kaddafi, Kings of Saudi Arabia and others.
The deal seems to be that EU will send back some refugees and receive others in equal numbers. Turkey will receive some funds to expedite this exchange and has also been promised free travel to EU and faster full membership but with the proviso that Turkey finalize 72 changes regarding democracy, opinion and speech freedom.
Turkey will not take the democratic measures and will accuse EU for not delivering to gain more domestic support for the autocracy. But they will take the 3-6 Billion euros to partially use it to move Syrian refugees to areas abandoned by the Kurds they attacked in Southeastern Turkey.
Latest info on today's bombing is that it was most probably an Islamic State bomb targeting a group of Israeli tourists. Of the four dead, three are Israeli and one Iranian. Details on the now 39 injured is not yet released except that 6-7 may be in critical condition.
The streets are empty over most of Istanbul.
We had a beautifully wood grilled medium rare filet of lamb tonight presented by the president of our Social Club. Tomorrow, I will get the materials for the cook to make a Thai-Italian-Turkish fusion hot spinach salad and eight hour roasted short ribs for our table of twelve at the Darka restaurant. We shall eat while wathching my (and Eser's) football (soccer) team beat their traditional rivals.
This is terrible. We are getting accustomed to living amidst all this violence.
Who knows, We may stay the full length of our visa in Chicago after we arrive late June, if our tenant does not renew his lease.
Mar 19th, 2016, 12:50 PM
#278
OC - I can only agree with you.
how does one distinguish between the deserving and undeserving refugee?
It seems that Turkey is becoming less democratic not more, but the leaders of Europe have ceased to care.
how does one distinguish between the deserving and undeserving refugee?
It seems that Turkey is becoming less democratic not more, but the leaders of Europe have ceased to care.
Mar 19th, 2016, 01:18 PM
#279
Dear OC,
I'm so sorry to hear about the bombing, which is not too far away from your own home. You've predicted the busy pedestrian-free street to be a possible target many times and, unfortunately, your predictions have come true.
As for the refugees, I think many in Europe are relieved that the flow is now being more controlled. Many question the validity of the refugee status these immigrants are professing. A few kilometers from my home in Switzerland, a refugee family (not sure if they were Eritrean or Syrian) was given housing and the children were taught some German. However, their refugee status has expired and the Swiss government has ordered them to return to their country. The family fled their home overnight and are now illegally living somewhere in Europe. This kind of reaction is not uncommon for those who are ordered to return to their home country.
My heart goes out to Turkey and all other surrounding nations for dealing with the major flow of the Syrian refugees. The answer is simple: bring peace and safety back to the Middle East and people will not leave. Unfortunately, this solution is easier said than done.
Wishing you the best, OC.
I'm so sorry to hear about the bombing, which is not too far away from your own home. You've predicted the busy pedestrian-free street to be a possible target many times and, unfortunately, your predictions have come true.
As for the refugees, I think many in Europe are relieved that the flow is now being more controlled. Many question the validity of the refugee status these immigrants are professing. A few kilometers from my home in Switzerland, a refugee family (not sure if they were Eritrean or Syrian) was given housing and the children were taught some German. However, their refugee status has expired and the Swiss government has ordered them to return to their country. The family fled their home overnight and are now illegally living somewhere in Europe. This kind of reaction is not uncommon for those who are ordered to return to their home country.
My heart goes out to Turkey and all other surrounding nations for dealing with the major flow of the Syrian refugees. The answer is simple: bring peace and safety back to the Middle East and people will not leave. Unfortunately, this solution is easier said than done.
Wishing you the best, OC.
Mar 19th, 2016, 02:56 PM
#280
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dear OC,
Thank you so much for your helpful and poignant posts. I was actually just considering a trip to Istanbul based on the non-information elsewhere until I read this. This is so sad.
May I selfishly ask you whether you think it would be safe to fly THROUGH Istanbul, making a connection at the airport, or might that now be one of the more dangerous places to be?
Many thanks,
TF
Thank you so much for your helpful and poignant posts. I was actually just considering a trip to Istanbul based on the non-information elsewhere until I read this. This is so sad.
May I selfishly ask you whether you think it would be safe to fly THROUGH Istanbul, making a connection at the airport, or might that now be one of the more dangerous places to be?
Many thanks,
TF
