NationStates Jolt Archive

A bomb went off in Antalya a resort town in Turkey popular with european tourists. Kurdish terrorists are suspect.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5293070.stm

The blast came hours after three bombs hit another coastal resort, Marmaris, injuring at least 21 people. Another blast in Istanbul wounded six people.

The Turkish economy is heavily reliant on tourism, which Kurdish separatists have repeatedly threatened to target.

The cause of the blast in Antalya is not yet known, but the authorities were said to be looking for two suspects.

Meanwhile, a Kurdish militant group with links to the banned separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has claimed responsibility for Sunday's blasts in Marmaris and Istanbul.

"We had warned before, Turkey is not a safe country. Tourists should not come to Turkey," the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (Tak) said on its website.


Doesn't seem to me that the US led war in Iraq is bringing Stability and democracy to the middle east. Before the 2003 invasion Turkey was a modern, democratic, and secular country. Now that Hussein is gone the kurd seperatists seem to be a little bit more active.

This is also a great reminder that terrorism isn't just religion based.

The PKK has always been active. It's probably more widely reported now than it used to be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdistan_Workers_Party

PKK was founded and led by Abdullah Öcalan. It emerged as an organisation during the 1970s and developed into a paramilitary organisation which rendered much of southeastern Turkey a war zone in the late 1980s and 1990s.

So. Bush wasn't President then, when they turned southeastern Turkey into a war zone. Who do you want to blame now?

The PKK has always been active. It's probably more widely reported now than it used to be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdistan_Workers_Party



So. Bush wasn't President then, when they turned southeastern Turkey into a war zone. Who do you want to blame now?

I think he's not blaming anyone on the emergence of terror groups.... most of them have been around far longer than many people on this forum.
He just states that the much-proclaimed "war on terror" is falling a bit short on showing results.

I think he's not blaming anyone on the emergence of terror groups.... most of them have been around far longer than many people on this forum.
He just states that the much-proclaimed "war on terror" is falling a bit short on showing results.

Well, the PKK isn't part of the "results".

Doesn't seem to me that the US led war in Iraq is bringing Stability and democracy to the middle east. Before the 2003 invasion Turkey was a modern, democratic, and secular country. Now that Hussein is gone the kurd seperatists seem to be a little bit more active.

This is also a great reminder that terrorism isn't just religion based.Much as I'd love to blame it on the Iraq war, I do remember Kurdish terrorism and extremism from before the war, such as the hostage taking in the Iraqi Embassy in Berlin.

Much as I'd love to blame it on the Iraq war, I do remember Kurdish terrorism and extremism from before the war, such as the hostage taking in the Iraqi Embassy in Berlin.

I remember when "everything is Clinton's fault" and now it's "everything is Bush's fault".

I can't wait until people get tired of that, and start figuring out the real cause of problems.

Well, the PKK isn't part of the "results".

It's not? :eek:

It's an international terror organisation, isn't it? What requirements are not met?


.... oh, I get it. The Kurds are Christian, not Muslims. Therefore they can't possibly be bad.

It's not? :eek:

It's an international terror organisation, isn't it? What requirements are not met?

.... oh, I get it. The Kurds are Christian, not Muslims. Therefore they can't possibly be bad.

Kurds are Muslim. They just haven't blown up US citizens.

Much as I'd love to blame it on the Iraq war, I do remember Kurdish terrorism and extremism from before the war, such as the hostage taking in the Iraqi Embassy in Berlin.

I am not blaming it on the war. My point is that the war on terror isn't doing much in the "stopping terrorism" catagory.

Kurds are Muslim. They just haven't blown up US citizens.

they were europeans...just like the victims of Madrid

I've been to Antalya. Big city, but the tourist areas are incredibly tacky.

I know someone who’s in Antalya right now :eek: *calls*

edit: still alive but that was fucking scary

say, what's ocalan up to these days?

*remembers the old solidarity protests*

they were europeans...just like the victims of Madrid

Then Europeans can call them terrorists.

Yup, i was supposed to be going on holiday to Turkey in about ten days' time. we were flying to Antalya. I would still go, but both my mates are too scared. Sigh. we lose all our money. Anyone want a free holiday to Turkey? (departing from Glasgow... there's always a catch ;) )

say, what's ocalan up to these days?

*remembers the old solidarity protests*

apparently nobody else does...

I've been to Antalya. Big city, but the tourist areas are incredibly tacky.

Most cities that rely almost solely on tourism are tacky in the extreme. I remember going to the Bahamas and witnessing a "caribbean" dance festival, I swear you could see the dignity leaving the dancers bodies....

apparently nobody else does...

No, I was busy in the Gus Hall days.

say, what's ocalan up to these days?

*remembers the old solidarity protests*

Was'nt Ocalan caught by the Turks many years back?

Was'nt Ocalan caught by the Turks many years back?


yeah - sold out by the greeks, iirc. but there was a 'no killing him' condition, i think. in any case, last i heard he was still alive and still exercised some level of influence within kurdish nationalist circles.

I am not blaming it on the war. My point is that the war on terror isn't doing much in the "stopping terrorism" catagory.

You stated that the Kurdish attacks in Turkey have only happened since 2000 thus implying (perhaps unconciously) with a patently untrue statement that the war in Iraq somehow caused the strife between Kurds and Turks.