Explosions at int'l airport in Istanbul

Any time o_t references truth, I get a good chuckle.

 

I've thought about this since you've posted, trying to come up with an answer. I just don't have one.

Personally, I see more hate spewed on this thread than I have up close in my travels. I'm not saying it's not there, just that I haven't run across it firsthand.

I didn't aim for this life. I wanted out of journalism and wound up joining the Peace Corps. I work with a lot of people who fought to get into this life -- it's pretty cushy, all things considered -- but I really fell into it. I flat-out couldn't find another job post-Peace Corps (2010), and this happened.

But yeah, it's draining. My colleagues -- 75 percent of the staff is local -- are down, especially. The Americans are more protected -- our homes are fairly secure (at least from things like earthquakes) and we can set ourselves apart if we want to. But the local staff, who are very much my colleagues as much as anyone else, are far more affected.

I guess I really don't have an answer for you. I'm a target because I'm an American, yes, and that's drilled into my head. But that's not meant in a violent way. Anyone's a target, really. Any day, for whatever. (China had far different warnings than here, but it's the same -- you're American, you're diplomat, you're going to be noticed.)

It's a job. And it's government work, so it's not sexy, but I'm really good at it and I like it.

I am well-compensated, I have housing paid for, and I'm tenured so I have job security. But mostly, and for whatever it's worth, I have the backing of the U.S. government, which makes me feel like I have a leg up on, say, English teachers abroad.

And I do love to travel, so this gives me a great starting point for that. I traveled to 22 countries from China. This post has the same potential, assuming we're still clear to leave town. My plan is to go to Baku on Monday to visit a colleague.

And at the end of the day, I trust that God will protect me, and if He chooses to take me, there's not a lot I can do about it. I can be vigilant, but I'm not going to live in bubble, whether that's Istanbul or Detroit.

And I'm done with this thread now. Another one ruined. It's really sad a handful of people ruin the threads on international topics. There's a much bigger world out there than sports.

 

KJIM, many thanks for the well-reasoned and thoughtful reply.

I too like to travel, and was looking forward to doing more of it when I retire (which is 10 to 15 years away at least). Scary - never thought that all of Europe would be risky to some degree, but the London attacks back in JUL 2005 woke me up quite a bit.

A friend of mine said a few years ago, I think after the Arab Spring, that one of her bucket list items was to visit the pyramids, but no way in hell she was going to Egypt then or now.

But, life must go on, and to completely punt is to let terror win. Being careful and prepared, and yet undeterred, is key.

We actually had a two week stay in Bodrum lined up about five years ago. Couldn't make it at the time.

Condolences to the staff and your colleagues. Keep doing great things, and again, many thanks for the reply. Be safe.

Regards,
VB

 

Three suspected Islamic State suicide bombers who killed 42 people in a gun and bomb attack at Istanbul airport this week were from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, a Turkish government official said on Thursday.

Istanbul bombers were Russian, Uzbek, Kyrgyz nationals: Turkish official

 

Thank you for your service to our country. Hope you will consider staying around. I'm relatively
new here but have enjoyed your dispatches and have learned a lot.

 

you are as relatively new as OOP is relatively annoying

 

So ban people from Russia and two other countries or continents I can't spell or pronounce from coming to America? I can get on board the Trump train with that.

 

I can get on board with more restrictive and monitored immigration. Deport Mrs Trump. She's from one of the courtiers.


But any train engineered by Trump will inevitably lead to Dachau.

German jobs for real German people.

 

All signs pointing to the attack being directed by ISIS, not just inspired by them.

 

U bek ya

 

That happened during the Kenyan Mall massacre. Probably just a coincidence, though.