Joe NY

You are absolutely correct, unfortunately Americans are ignorant to how the world really is, and think they are safe in a foreign land, specially a place like Turkey. Neither our country nor our people are loved the world over, we are not safe at home how can we expect to be safe in foreign lands where most of the population hates us, the fact that our countries may be allies has no bearing on this. I can't say I am surprised at the outcome. I hope other people learn from this example.

My condolences to the family.

Then prove it. Take NO precautions and stare down a gun or a knife or simply a gang of these third world monsters and then report back to us. Being brave has little to do with it. But wisdom and common sense? Priceless. Use it or lose it.

Thanks JK and Antistupidity. This IS the real world we live in. It used to be we were once respected internationally. But even our own media combined with radical pro terrorist groups (freedom fighters the mainstream media calls them, don't make me laugh) make any one of our citizens prime targets for nothing except minding our own business. This "citizen of the world" cr*p doesn't entitle you to a free pass to go anywhere as if Shangra-La awaits. If you're American, then that's that.

Jag-3192938

Africa, and you?

Actually, Turkey is a relatively safe place to visit/travel to, but...... being alone is one issue, and perhaps...not making a good choice in what time of day, to visit a site. Most likely, this sad event occurred after dark, and let's face it....we in the USA have plenty of cities that aren't safe to walk in, after dark...

I have traveled to Europe and Mexico and all over the United States. News flash, all these places "outside" of the U.S. are safer. Our violent crime rates are out of this world. Having said that, I would never travel to countries in the Middle East(yes the entire Middle East) or India or some South American or African nations as a young single woman. Misogynistic nations are dangerous for young single women. It is not a matter of freedom. It is a matter of life or death or assault and rape or not being assaulted and raped. My oldest daughter, a pretty blonde who lived in Greece for two years, wanted to travel to Turkey with friends for the weekend. My husband and I spent a fortune in phone calls talking her out of it. She listened to us that one time, which was rare for her. Yes we have misogynists in our country. However, we have a legal system that recognizes women as equals even if our society hasn't caught up yet. And, except for the Sheriff Arpaios of our nation who won't prosecute crimes against women, most law enforcement do uphold the laws.

I've never beeen to Turkey but my highly intelligent, highly Conservative -( no thery're not mutually exclusive) brother has and he had much good to say about it.

14 years in South Africa, I watched the amazing race episode when they went there and I saw people on the show asking for directions, had there not been a TV crew with them they would not have survived, I knew where they were, their ignorance would have gotten them killed without the a doubt. Another thing is it is very different for a man than it is for a woman, not being sexist, just facing reality.

This woman's companion was a no show when she got to the airport.Her husband agreed she could go if she stayed in touch by phone. How was that keeping her safe in a world that is so obviously in chaos? Like we say,"When danger is seconds away, police are minutes away." Surely she stuck out like any foreigner would.

Regrettably her safety should have been above her happiness, though understandable he wanted her happy. No one desires seeing a loved one disappointed. We face the same thing in teaching our children about safety. Sometimes we must allow them to be disappointed.But they learn we love them because of it.

Ultimately, life is too precious, to allow a vacation to be more important than safety.No matter how much it promises to make someone happy.Especially in the Middle East, so close to places which are full of anti-American sentiments.

Windancersong-1494878

Well said, and that desire for self gratification should be even weaker when you have children that are your responsibility.

Solo trip in any southwest Asian country? No thanks. I lived in Kuwait for six years. Even as western friendly as it is you need to keep on your toes because complacency begets tragedy. Turkey? Generally, you will find more Turks who hate Americans than those who don't. A 2007 survey found only 9% of Turks with a favorable opinion of Americans. Definitely not a place to go solo and, at the risk of sounding sexist, especially for a woman.

This story is sad, but if you step out of your door and put your foot on the pavement, then you take a risk. You can mitigate risk of course, but circumstances can conspire to put us in harms way, and it dosn't matter how carefull we are. A trip to Wal-Mart can prove fatal. The amount of risk we allow in our lives determines what kind of lives we have. I am sure this woman was not stupid, she allowed more danger into her life than most of us would tolerate, some would say serves her right. Others would say she let risk in to live to live a life less ordinary. She paid a high price but for some the price is worth it. RIP

Jag,

By the way..I lived in Africa for 4 years...seriously....Kenya and Tanzania...by the way..when I was there, they were safe places to live

No place is a "safe" place to live. That kind of thinking is what gets people killed. Don't live in fear but always be aware that danger exists no matter where you are.

@ Joe NY, PhantomBeast, and other xenophobes:

Here's a shocker for you: most people in the world don't give a crap about Americans, or that you are American. Are you naive fools? Do you think that people half-way across the world think about us every night and day? And do you think that if you set one foot outside the country that everyone's gonna pull a knife out and gut you?

I recommend you all read this little eye-opener written by someone who's actually been to places: http://postmasculine.com/america

That said, I think the reality of this situation is that she wasn't targeted for being American, but she was targeted for being a lone woman.

My mother and I had just such a discussion last night. As a woman, she never feels entirely safe alone. And when she travels alone she always has to watch her back. And we were talking about traveling within the U.S., not some foreign place.

But, this shouldn't discourage people from traveling. Yes, the world is dangerous, but it's also beautiful. As long as you play it safe, a trip to some far-away land can prove to be a very eye-opening experience.

AnaBanana

I suggest you look up the violent crime stats for other countries. Much of Europe, and especially the UK has a much higher rate of violent crime than we do!

And, except for the Sheriff Arpaios of our nation who won't prosecute crimes against women, most law enforcement do uphold the laws.

Sheriffs aren't the ones who prosecute anybody. That would be the District Attorney, States Attorney, etc.

Another ill advised person thinking all is well in a "middle eastern din of murderers". I would much rather give my "tourist dollars" to the people of Chicago. At least there I know some gun wielding idiot will steal my life quickly, not slice me to ribbons and watch me die a horrible painful death. When will our citizens learn that WE are not welcome in their country's, THEY ONLY WANT OUR MONEY TO CONTINUE ON THEIR ROAD BACK TO THE DARK AGES. Teabaggers want that HERE, but I'll fight them tooth and nail to keep this country from their brand of religion and hate!!!!!!!!

Why would anyone from one of the must beautiful countries in the world want to go to one of these foreign wastelands? I hate it for her and her family but you can't expect anything else from those knuckle draggers. It's amazing how people from the U S think they can go to those places and parade around sight seeing and trying to help those neanderthals. The day i read she was missing in that @!$%# hole i knew what her fate had been. Did any body really expect anything else? @ Joe NY,Antistupidity and Phantom you are absolutley right. Any one who goes to those places are just asking for it.

Mr. Bubbs,

YOU are naive if you think that there are NOT people half way around the world who think about how much they hate Americans daily. Large portions of foreign populations blame Americans for their misfortunes. (In many cases, rightly so.)

I don't need to read your link. I have one and a half passports filled with stamps. I have first hand experience in many countries. I met a lot of nice friendly people and others, mostly in southwest Asian countries, who seemed as though they would have been glad for an opportunity to gut me for being American. There are places where you should never let your guard down for a minute. Turkey would be one of those places.

I have traveled throughout Central America, since the 1980's through many areas that were considered volatile at times in El Salvador,Guatemala, Mexico in the Chiapas area, etc.! I have also grown up in New York City! The one thing I have always said is that you must be aware of your surroundings, whether at home or especially in another country where another language is spoken and one that you might not be proficient in. We must all be prepared for violence, no matter where we are!

Well the Iraq war the Turks refused us use of their airfields and now the attack on the embassy and the murder of a woman from the USA. I'm not sure what makes them any type of friend of the USA in the first place. I may also add that murder takes place every where. No matter where one goes it should be a priority to take precautions.

YOU are naive if you think that there are NOT people half way around the world who think about how much they hate Americans daily. Large portions of foreign populations blame Americans for their misfortunes. (In many cases, rightly so.)

Ron, I never denied that there are people out in the world who want to harm us. I was saying that not everyone in the world wants to harm us, and that not everyone you encounters in your travels is hiding a dagger behind his back. BIIIIIG difference.

I have first hand experience in many countries. I met a lot of nice friendly people and others, mostly in southwest Asian countries, who seemed as though they would have been glad for an opportunity to gut me for being American.

And the fact that you were able to avoid being harmed by these people shows that you took precautions when traveling, which proves the points I made in my last post.

As I said before, the world is dangerous, but can also be very beautiful. I hope you enjoyed most of your travels, Ron.

War Chief,

People going to these places are not "asking for it". When harm befalls them it is because they become complacent and/or careless. There are places in the world whose beauty is unmatched by any place in the U.S. and I am glad I saw them and experienced different cultures. Get off the rez (if you are actually Lakota) and broaden your horizons.

Mr.Bubbs

@ Joe NY, PhantomBeast, and other xenophobes:

Here's a shocker for you: most people in the world don't give a crap about Americans, or that you are American.

Are you kidding me ? Little kids are being taught in schools over there to hate America, and to kill americans, and that we are the devil.. How in the world can you say they dont give a crap about us, when they are bring taught at tiny little ages to kill us and to hate us..

You must be blind.

This world is indeed beautiful, but to go to a country filled with terrorists? To where do you think that all those Al Quida beasts went? Into and over the mountains into Turkey! And travelling alone as a female presents a ripe opportunity for those animals to take out their brand of hate filled activities! I would NEVER allow ANYONE from my family to go there or ANY OTHER of those hate filled countries, even if I had to chain them down! My husband and I have always taught our daughters to be aware, carry a key out and in between your fingers, just in case of an attack from some crazed US citizen, as well as other forms of self defense (a bit of LEAD to cure their lead deficiency is always effective, provided one knows it's proper place and use!) Neither would I walk alone at night in some portions of MY city...All that being said, I feel so bad for her family.. And NO beauty OR opportunity is 'worth it' if it robs a person of experiencing more fun, laughter, family events, and life!

Well the Iraq war the Turks refused us use of their airfields and now the attack on the embassy and the murder of a woman from the USA. I'm not sure what makes them any type of friend of the USA in the first place.

And what, pray tell, did their refusal to let us use their airfields ten years ago have to do with a homicide and terrorist attack that happened a few days ago? What's the connection?

Turkey is an independent nation that is allowed to refuse our demands. We don't rule over them, much as we like to think we do.

Are you kidding me ? Little kids are being taught in schools over there to hate America, and to kill americans, and that we are the devil. How in the world can you say they dont give a crap about us, when they are bring taught at tiny little ages to kill us and to hate us.

Which schools, where?

To where do you think that all those Al Quida beasts went? Into and over the mountains into Turkey!

Actually, there's a lot of evidence that they're trying to re-establish themselves in Africa.

I traveled the world and I'm still alive, now I live in a near wilderness area and plan to keep it that way, today's world sucks. now has anyone other then myself wondered why her husband and brother only bought one way tickets to Turkey to look for her?

JoeNY

Then go ahead and travel to Iran and say "Hey dude, I'm your friend.". They'll scream "infidel" at you and chop your head to pieces.

My wife and I are American, and have travelled to Iran. Nobody chopped our heads off. In fact we were welcomed warmly whereever we went and invited to more people's homes than we could have accepted.

Mr.Bubbs,

Which schools, where?

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.11242/pub_detail.asp

While living in Kuwait there were raids on mosques, after a couple of Kuwaiti police were shot, where they confiscated and destroyed hate filled literature. Yes, children in many countries are indoctrinated to hate Americans. Another example: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-06-23/north-korea-teaching-hate-united-states/55784168/1

D Buck,

now has anyone other then myself wondered why her husband and brother only bought one way tickets to Turkey to look for her?

I have not wondered, but I would assume that they bought one way tickets because they didn't plan on leaving until they found out what happened.

TIDubai,

My wife and I are American, and have travelled to Iran. Nobody chopped our heads off. In fact we were welcomed warmly whereever we went and invited to more people's homes than we could have accepted.

What is your ethnic heritage? That would make a difference in how you were treated by many.

Joe you are 100 percent correct. Turkey is not a place for any American to visit right now for a man or woman. Most people have no comprehension of the danger in some foreign contries and think its just a normal vacation.

Anabanana, you need to get your facts straight. Sheriff Arpaio doesn't decide what is prosecuted and not, your District Attorneys office is the department who does that. No sheriff in any county or state has that power.

You are taking a huge risk as an American woman to travel solo to a country like Turkey, or just about any country. With the exception of Canada and some western European countries, I would never tavel solo. It should not keep you from traveling and doing what you want, but the risk of it is yours.

@PhantomBeast

I agree with everything you said except the islamic remark...apparently, the only thing you know about muslims is what you hear about on the news or from some ignorant people...the people you say are trying to "cleanse" the world with their population are not islamics, they are radicalists who think they are doing gods work but really arent, which unfortunatley, theyare doing it in the name of islam, which gives it a bad name especially to ignorant idiots...

@denouement:

And I'll have lived my life every day without cowardice.

That is great! But you do so at your own risk. You then can't expect the protections you get in the US. Do whatever you want, just don't expect others to foot the bill and manpower to help you if your risk goes awry - mainly if you are in one of the many countries unfriendly or enemies of the US.

Hey Bubbs. I think the connection is they didn't want us then and they don't want us now....I'm sure they had their reasons in the Iraq war.. Question.. where will you would think they would go for help if they needed it??

Women out here on the vine: Your first "dream" vacation. Where do you choose to go? Rome? Venice? Paris? London? Honolulu? How about Barcelona? I'm guessing she had some knowledge of Spanish... How many on this vine would choose Turkey?

What is your ethnic heritage? That would make a difference in how you were treated by many.

My family came to America from Poland hundreds of years ago. My wife's family comes from the UK originally (several generations ago). I am very white, blond and blue-eyed. My wife is similar-looking. We had no problems in Iran or any other MIddle Eastern country.

it would not surprise me if she were there on a covert information gathering mission , who would suspect a single lone woman?

Too many questions regarding this story to simply deem it "a tragic robbery gone wrong" or some such. This woman appears to have been in fairly heavy contact with not one, but a few Turkish men. When will people realize going off to meet "people on the net" isn't always the safest bet, ALONE? I've just read she had been texting in Turkish and her plans were not so simple as a "photo holiday." I'm sorry she died, but I do not believe this was a simple vacation to fill her Instagram. Something stinks and I think we'll be hearing the bawdy details in the near future. Not to mention people saying the section of town she was staying in was squallid and it would be VERY difficult to an average American 'tourist' to even find this accomodation, never mind her random 1-day (and very expensive) side trip to Amsterdam in the middle of her Istanbul stay. That doesn't make any sense economically. The cynic in me says she was in some drug ring or went for boff her online Turkish lover(s) who turned around and offed her.

My condolences to the family. As for all the posts arguing one way or the other about travel. I have travelled extensively and do not fear going to most countries. I would avoid a number of them in the middle east at this point in time. Just as I would avoid certain cities throughout the world. Just as I would avoid certain parts of many cities in the US.

The decision to go to Turkey alone was less than wise for her. Then to double down and stay in a questionable area of Istanbul was pushing her luck. But then meeting someone on Facebook and deciding to meet with him at night near a bridge really begs the question of sound mind.

We do not need to live in fear of the world. But we do need to accept that there are decisions that need to be thought through with common sense as a guide. Sadly, common sense did not seem to be used in this case.

this is terrible. I felt bad for her kids, this kind of stuff can put a deep hate in your heart. But we must remember, this is an isolated case in a world were global travel is 24 hours a day. There are dozens of woman floating over your heads at any given time of the day, now true, its unsafe to 'tour' alone, espeacilly if your going to be hanging around the shadier sides of Istanbul. And i don't know the motives behind the crime, could have been over her nationality, or just a robbery, or a mixture of both. But since we all can agree that americans are disliked around the world, perhaps we should focus on why that is. [hint: its not our 'liberties and freedoms'] because if you think your free, try going anywhere without any money.

She wanted to pursue her photography hobby

Hope she got some good pictures.

If not, well she was stupid enough to go there alone or to even go there at all. Americans are not much liked anywhere, if you jerks did not get that yet. The way you folks are responding to things like this is proof!

The American outlook at things and about other countries is not appreciated or asked for, anywhere. Get that? However, there are always a bunch of arssholes from America that think they have to sell their stupid antiquated religions or any other horse@!$%# (i.e.mormons). No folks, you are not liked out there and you need to go and look seriously at the why!

There is not a thing right here at home, but, you go out there spouting of about their cultures and history (mind you, they have a history, not that 250 plus year little stuff you got here from the garbage of Europe), that just does not fly, if you get my drift.

I have traveled and lived abroad for many years, and while nothing is certain I have always been safe.

I don't travel to the middle east, but spent 2.5 years in Mexico and some time in China, Malaysia and Thailand- and Europe.

Common sense goes a long way- and using the same rules one would use in New York City at night are fairly typical for other places.

Malaysia is a mostly Muslim country, I was respectful, and I was treated very well- I didn't cover up either.

My hunch is that this lady was out late at night-alone, taking photos in her own little world- and that is dangerous in most large cities around the world.

RIP- it's a sad scary world, but I refuse to not live happily, and do what I want with added common sense.

HMMMM!!!

Seems to me that being from New York she would have known better than travel alone.

Heck when I travel in my Wilkes Barre Pa. I try to travel in a group because of all the shootings and stabbings going on there. Heck the other day 2 people were shot by a small deli on the mayors pet project of the grand entrance to wilkes barre. This was done in mid day on a pretty busy street.

So with that, what you all talking about those darn 3rd world countries, take a look around you.

Just read today that the little girl that sang at Obama's inaug, was shot in Chicago, so does this mean that since Obama got elected as President, that we are now a third world country or close to it.

Obama's gun plan --- I just don't get it. It isn't guns that kill, it is the nut behind the wheel, but the liberals don't want to punish the jerks, they want to examine them, and find out what made them be such a violent person, they say survival has no bounds, and the country doesn't have jobs, could there be a link here.

Obama I saved GMC, and helped the American worker, -- thats funny most cars bought today where made either in Mexico or Canada. I don't get it again.

@ AnaBanana

im pretty sure im safer walking southside chicago at night than mexico. i may run the risk of being robbed but i run the greater risk in mexico of being decapitated and my body thrown in a mass grave, burned, or in a well or left in the middle of the street.

i dont know how you can say some place like mexico is safer. 24 per 100,000 in 2011, compared to 4 per 100,000 in the united states.

Here let me add to Ron B-2757074 links.. Its pretty disgusting and scary.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/05/11/afghanistan.madrassa/

The real truth is that there are alot of dangerous places out there.If you want to go someplace at least research the area a little and evaluate the possible dangers before you go.I have been to some of the most dangerous places in the world but,I had an the U.S Army with me.I would never go to Somalia,Iraq or Afghanistan alone expecting to go on a picnic or sight seeing tour.Yeah right.

PEOPLE !!!...go back and read what you have all just written?????.....the stereotyping and the ignorance of some of these comments about ehnicity , culture , and religion are the reason the USA is percieved as hated overseas ....because manyy of you commenting here hate anything that isn't what YOU think it should be , you give the hate vibe , ya' get hate back....pretty simple . especiallly since many here haven't left and gone anywhere except thru "National Geographic Channel" or "Discovery" and the ever insightful & truthful unbiased media outlets known as "NEWS"...but having been to Turkey when I was in the USAF...it , like everywhere else in the world it is an especially dangerous place for any woman traveling solo , she just happened to be an American.....their are nefarious people EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD waiting to take advantage of the vulnerable...I have also been all over Europe ,the Shah's Iran , Thailand & Pakistan while in the USAF...I wonder how many spouting vitriol at others countries and cultures other than their's .\, have ever been to any of these places across the pond?...some of ya's sound stupid to me and are easy marks despite what you think....simply because you wouldn't understand how to blend in...most of ya's would go into "Ugly American" mode from the literary meaning of it and stand out like a "sore thumb"...and then wonder why they think Americans are considered arrogant and overbearing..overseas...it was like that in the 70's and it is still like that now...sometimes are worst enemy is ourselves..????

@ Shipwrecked:

If not, well she was stupid enough to go there alone or to even go there at all. Americans are not much liked anywhere, if you jerks did not get that yet. The way you folks are responding to things like this is proof!

Well, the feeling is mutual! As an American, I don't like most of the rest of the world either. And a good majority of Americans feel the same. Most of it is nothing but a leech on our country.

bennyover

Hey Bubbs. I think the connection is they didn't want us then and they don't want us now....I'm sure they had their reasons in the Iraq war..

If you're implying that Turkey's neutrality in the Iraq War signifies hostility, then that's a pretty flimsy-ass connection.

@ call me senator shmoe:

PEOPLE !!!...go back and read what you have all just written?????.....the stereotyping and the ignorance of some of these comments about ehnicity , culture , and religion are the reason the USA is percieved as hated overseas ....

Bullshi*! the USA is "hated" due to jealousy - period! The USA has come farther and been more successful in 200 years than any country on earth. In countries wear woman are treated lower than rats, children are enslaved, religion persecuted, civil wars are raging, and on and on - well, it's not Americans doing that, its the countries doing that to themselves. So don't you dare blast the USA, as we are the country that does the most in every way, including money and charity, for alot of these shi*-hole countries, more than any other country on earth!! If I had my way, not one cent of American money would go to these countries that "hate" us.

Interestingly, I was watching a clip on one of the news channels late the other night about this. A man who formerly worked for the State Dept. said that American tourists go missing all the time in foreign countries. And normally you never hear anything about it, UNLESS the family is a squeaky wheel like this woman's husband, or like the family of that girl who went missing in Aruba several years ago. He said that the US State Dept. can't possibly spend untold dollars and manpower trying to find and save every (stupid) American tourist who goes "missing". I found this to be very insightful. NO WAY would my spouse or daughter, or son for that matter, be allowed to travel alone in a foreign country. Just way too risky. Just way too many bad people in the world. Heck, way too many bad people in the USA!

Some of you seem to forget the many murders of foreign travelers that occur right here in the USA every year.

I accept that answer Bubbs. you still forgot to answer the question...do you have an answer?

Hey Bubbs like I said I'm sure they had their reasons....being neutral or whatever.so the question was ..where are they going for help when they need it???by the way who said ant thing about hostility??

I am sorry that she is dead, and yes you could be killed anywhere, but the truth of the matter is you have to watch your back regardless of where you are going, the US or anywhere in the world. Personally, I would not visit any countries that has had problems or anti-american feelings because I would not want anything to happen to me. Also, I know of the places where you should not go to in the civilized parts of the world (ex. hearing about folks being robbed in museums in Italy -- can't remember the city) and other places in Europe. I went to Europe and England in 1995 when there were bomb scares in London. I have not traveled to Europe alone unless I was visiting friends who I could stay with, but I have traveled alone in the US, but always to where I was going to meet friends or family.

Gee, guess people don't like us out there .... I wonder why? Seems like We give everyone but our own money, so what our people live under a bridge with their kids as long as We look good to the rest of the world. Oh that's right can't buy love ....

Windancersong (@ #1.18): A couple of days ago I was trying to make a point on this column in relation to the story from Atlanta, GA (i.e. the 14 year old boy shot in the neck by another 14 year old in the outside school court). I work in school district safety and Friday (a waver day for the school kids where I am at) I was in training all day long. We were considering gangs and gang identification in our city. We were also doing training and answering questions about active shooter situations of many kind (not just in schools).

Windancersong go back and read what you wrote in the first half of your response (it was good and very related to the point I was trying to make a few days ago); and the rest of you readers should read what is said by Windancersong "@ #1.18.

Here is an example of my point: I continually have problem kids who can't listen to instructions - oftentime will do exactly the opposite of what I instruct them and even wonder why they should listen or even try to understand the instructions. Take a boy who can never "sit down" when you tell him to "sit down". What is so important about that? Well, I've told a couple of those boys about a boy who went to school with me - back when the US was just starting to think about going to war in Viet Nam. He 'grew up(?)' and never did learn to listen when someone instructed him to sit down. He ended up in an Army infantry unit - in Viet Nam. One day a squad sargent had his squad dig in. Then he being the older and more experienced soldier noticed something happening and told his men to get down. This kid though did the exact opposite and in came a mortar round. Do I have to tell you where he ended up?

Back in the day when we had a large military presence in the ME that wasn't actually in a combat zone, my brother was stationed in Turkey. About 35 miles from the Soviet Border, manning a RADAR station. Him and some some of his friends were lucky to survive an ordeal involving their car running over a chicken that was in the road.

They seriously hated us in 70's and that was before all these incursions we've had there since. Anyone traveling solo to that region, and especially a woman, is seriously tempting fate. If the stories about honor killings and such that have taken place right here in our own country aren't enough to make people see that an American woman alone in that region is risky business, then the person that mentioned Darwin before was on the right track. Daniel in the Lions Den, and other stories like it make for good reading, but the reason they are so special is because that isn't going to be the likely outcome for virtually 100% anyone else. You can plan out anything and make it work if YOU are in control of circumstances......a point that seems lost on some people posting here. They think that because they act recklessly in the US and get away with it that they can travel the world carelessly without consequence.

I've done some traveling and, had some tight spots but managed because I was young, strong, sorta world wise and constantly on guard. A guy tried to grab my wife and carry her off in the Caribbean back in the 80's......that was a little touchy for a few minutes. Not being fleet of foot and having anything like quick reflexs any more, I've discovered that the old saying 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure', is absolutely correct.

@hopeful American..obviously you're a great believer in the "might is right principle " of ideology , one in the same or similar too the nationalistic attitude that there was in late 1930's Germany ?.thats one of things we ended up fighting against Germany for in WW2 wasn't it ? which led to the cold war to now...in case you don't understand world history at its basics ???.you're the type of person and attitude that doesn't help America's public relations either , you're exactly the type of American that I was refering too....that is the negative that is a cause of the negative....have you ever traveled out of your comfort zone ?..oh .BTW I served 7 years active duty in the USAF 4 of them overseas in the 70's....did you serve ? or are you just another loudmouth patriot that talks with little substance behind your rhetoric??..plus you sound more nationalistically emotional about things than educated to the ways of the planet EARTH and its diversities of diversity good or bad...and I was blasting a negative attitude that far to many "yanks" have overseas..and on here , judging by these comments...read them !!..alot of them make us Americans come across like the ignorant , arrogant , & misinformed....the stereotype of a "Yank" in the eyes of those from other countries....????...and then read these comments and switch the derogatory inference with "Yank" thats what they say about us ! get it ....see dumb and dumber is everywhere it knows no nationality

Top story: There is crime in other countries. That's right, folks. Just like here in the United States, there are places that are as dangerous as Detroit, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. I sh** you not. They have murders and everything. Knives, guns, bad people....the whole works! Holy socks, Batman, it's like you have to take precautions regardless of your nationality or where you travel!!!

Are you kidding me??? Reading some of the above posts is more shocking Sad story, but when the hell did this become something people didn't know? (denouement, you would serve as a GREAT example for kids of what NOT to do. You're not brave, you're naive.)

Schmoe, prefering this country over the examples of current and historical ones before us isn't about "might". There hasn't been another country that willingly lived by iths neighbors in peace, thats why they are all carved up into tiny little kingdoms, over and over again through out history and in modern day - just read the news.

Many politicians use that rhetoric though, here and wherever it is you may or may not be from.

But I do appreciate the irony of your lumping a bunch of commentors together to heap your scorn on because of a few honest comments about dangerous places, is rich in its irony though! thanks for the amusement!

National geographic specials do help prevent many children from being travel orphans, despise it if you wish. I've wanted to go to some places but rightly judge it is no longer viable to do so. That includes many places in america now days.

Bennyover

where are they going for help when they need it??? by the way who said ant thing about hostility??

Well you were implying that there was hostility from Turkey by making that silly connection. And they could go to us, but we aren't the only country that they go to for help. They're part of the European Union, after all.

Furthermore everyone, Turkey is the most westernized nation in the region, with western-based laws and a western alphabet. In fact they're probably almost the direct opposite of Afghanistan, despite crap like this happening which for that matter happens everywhere.

JoeNY and others on this board piping on about how dangerous these places are while ignorantly ignoring how dangerous America is instead. There are more homicides per capita per year in America than Turkey. And please please stay home xenophobes....I'd hate to run into you on vacation somewhere interesting and have to listen to you.

Conservatives aren't anti-liberal per se . . . we're just anti-stupid, and this situation is just more validation that book smarts rarely correlate to functional intelligence.

You can just hear what was going on in this liberal chick's head:

"I am so happy and content in my world of rainbows and unicorns! I love everyone (as long as they don't disagree with me about anything - at all) and I just know they all love me back because that's really all this mean ol' world needs; it just needs more love and tolerance and I am the one to spread it in abundance. So I am going to go on vacation all by myself, to a country that has been known to be hostile to the west in general, and to Americans specifically, and I just know I'll be fine because I love those people and I prove my love everyday by fiercely hating those repugnant Republicans who I just know hate these people who I love. And I know these people I love can feel that I love them and that I hate the repuglicans and because of this, they will welcome me with open arms and take me into their homes and we will break bread together and oh what beautiful and amazing experiences I will have to share with my Birkenstock-wearing brothers and sisters!"

I mean, you can't even write this stuff. Well, I guess I did, but the thing is . . . it's not fiction. This is really how these liberals think. I can't even imagine being so utterly and hopelessly devoid of any clue whatsoever when it comes to the reality of the world in which we live today.

Come to think of it, I wish more of them would make a pilgrimage to hospitable places like Iran, North Korea, Turkey, Afghanistan, etc.

Remember what happened to "Daniel Pearl".

Beheaded; she stabbed. They know the risk.

Carryingconcealed - Well said. Finally a conservative rant that laid out the true complete facts and followed a logical train of reasoning and showed clearly why liberals are asinine morons. A truly irrefutable post.

Condolences to the Family.

denouement - And I'll have lived my life every day without cowardicecommon sense.

There I fixed it for you. And you are correct you "lived" (past tense) as in dead.

Carryingconcealed - Conservatives aren't anti-liberal per se . . . we're just anti-stupid, and this situation is just more validation that book smarts rarely correlate to functional intelligence.

Liberals equal Idealistic Academic NOT of the Real World Life or Death School of Hard Knocks (aka Firsthand Experience (as Survival). And of course Liberals refuse to listen to firsthand experience.

example: Lara Logan as well as many US Citizens are warned by the US Department of State, To Cover ALL of their Hair (especially Blone); but nope, refused to listen. So she gets beaten raped; before someone attached to the US Embassy observing the demonstrations paid off the Egyptian women to help her.

After the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran had the US Kicked Out of Iraq, due to President Obama's FAILED US Policies, the Ayatollahs of Iran increased their Overt and Covert Activities Against the US and US Allies.

Pertaining to US Ally Turkey (Islamic Nation), due to President Obama's failed Foreign Policies the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran's Special Forces, Quds, have been training arming and funding millions of Holy Warriors of Islam at the Fundamentalist Islamic Autonomous Kurdistanis Region of Southern Turkey, Northern Iraq, Syria, Northwestern Iran. As trained in Asymmetric Warfare (Insurgency) to Fight the US and US Allies Worldwide, and Overthrow the Established Governments of US Allies Worldwide. Some of those trained that occupy almost all of Southern Turkey, parts of Syria as the "Syrian Rebels", and Northern Iraq are the Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK. Others that were previously trained armed and funded were the Muslim Brotherhood, Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Hamas Foreign Fighters, Chenchen Foreign Fighters, etc..

This (Autonomous Kurstanis Region) is the same area that after October 2001 Afghanistan we chased hundreds of thousands of the Taliban, Al Quada, Islamic Jihadists along the Old Silk Road into Northern Iraq, they then combined with the Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK and became Ansar Al Islam.

During Operation Viking Hammer we were augmented by the US Army 10th Special Forces Group to eliminate them at Northern Iraq. We lived with the Pro US Kurdistanis, after extensive vetting, we trained, armed them to fight the Iraqis Military. These same Pro US Kurdistanis helped us eliminate many of the Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK, Taliban, Al Quada before the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran gave them Islamic Sanctuary (most returned to Afghanistan) or fled to the Shia of Southern Iraq.

Much later we trained with the US Ally Turkish Special Forces for Mountain Warfare (Southern Turkey) before our next Mission, US Military Asymmetric Mountain Warfare Afghanistan, almost identical Mountain Warfare conditions. As Asymmetric Warfare (Special Warfare) Training this did include the combat operations against the Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK at Southern Turkey (Mountains).

During the President Obama Reelection Campaign President Obama Inflamed (understatement) the over 1.5 Billion Islamic Believers Worldwide with his, "Osama Bin Laden is Dead, GM is Alive".

The Islamic Believers Worldwide responded to President Obama with, "Obama, Obama, We Are All Osama", "Obama War Against Islam". And yes, that included at US Ally Turkey (Islamic Nation), Egypt, Tunisia (President Obama's claimed start of the Arab Spring), here, Iraq, etc.. The US Department of State warns everyone to stay out of these Nations.

The "Libyan Rebels" that went to Libya to Murder US Ally President Gaddaff the Collaborator to the Christians, Jews, Unbelievers as supported by President Obama as Al Quada Saudi Arabia (AQ), Al Quada Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al Quada Syria (AQS), Al Quada Yemen (AQY), Hezbollah, Al Quada Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), etc. became Ansar Al Shariah and start the planning to attack the US Consulate Benghazi (real close to them) to coincide with the Greatest Defeat of the Great Satan (US) by their Holy Warrior of Islam Superstar Osama Bin Laden, 9/11 in response to President Obama's "Osama Bin Laden is Dead, GM is Alive".

President Obama's as Commander In Chief ordered the deployment of US Patriot Missile Batteries to Turkey. Turkey is providing safe havens for the "Syrian Rebels" of the Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK and the Al Quada Iraq to do across the Border Attacks into Syria; just like the "Libyan Rebels" did across the Border Attacks of US Ally Libya, so that everytime the US Ally Libya attempted to eliminate the "Libyan Rebels" they would go back into Egypt; US Ally Egypt had to be Overthrown as key to attacking US Ally Libya.

The Islamic Citizens of the Nation of US Ally Turkey start violent protests Nationwide against President Obama's Ordered Deployment of US Military Patriot Missile Batteries to Turkey.

Mr.Bubbs - Furthermore everyone, Turkey is the most westernized nation in the region, with western-based laws and a western alphabet.

PROOF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, only post things you know about (which means zero):

Hatred of Christians, Jews, Unbelievers at US Ally Turkey (Islamic Nation):

Patriarch Bartholomew Feels "Crucified"

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/17/60minutes/main5990390.shtml

A very longtime ago, when my US Military Career Field was Nuclear (Weapons) Physics, I was involved with Erzurum Turkey before that was shut down, and I was switched to the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Career Field.

StMiller - And please please stay home xenophobes.

Sound advise for you StMiller

and also to the other no commonsense no real World experienced idealistic academic liberals:

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt". - Abraham Lincoln

David-475776 - I am an extremely well travelled person...have lived overseas...and have applied common sense widely while traveling. If you think this woman's experience was indicative of travel in foreign countries yours greatly mistaken. One could just as easily find articles about foreign travelers meeting equally bad endings while traveling here in the States. The problem is not that some people here express a fear of traveling to places like Turkey, the problem is this ridiculous notion that its any more dangerous than staying at home. An American is far more likely to be a victim of a homicide in his own country than if he traveled abroad. Those are the simple facts. The problem is that so many people take individual instances and broadly apply it to situations. For instance, people that wrongly take a misuses of firearms and suggest that guns are inherently evil.

P.S. that quote is not Lincoln's and while it is often wrongly attributed to him it outdates him, Twain, and others to whom it is often linked to. As a matter of fact a version of it originally appears in Proverbs.

add to post#1.77.

Just to explain to all of you just how long this has been going on (with the US Politicians and US Citizens REFUSING to Listen):

During the US Military Training Teams to US Ally Iraq during the Iran Iraq Wars, some of the other US Military Training Teams after training Iraqis Military Units lead them into Combat against the Armed (men, women, children as asymmetric warfare) Allies of the USSR Backed Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran, the Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK, including US Ally Iraqis Military Operations all the way to Southern Turkey. Our US Military Training Teams were rotated to Operation Cyclone, after Operation Cyclone we returned to US Ally Iraq, to see the Iraqis Use of Chemical Weapons (I was also previously trained and experienced in Chemical Weapons as well as Biological (Epidemiology)). See Section 2 Findings Weapons of Mass Destruciton of President Clinton's US Law, H.R.4655, "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998" that later became 2003 US Military Operation Iraqis Freedom the President Bush (43) successful Overthrow of President Hussein as President Clinton's US Policy.

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1057063/posts

President Clinton's 1998 State of the Union Address demanding US Law, H.R.4655; and demanding US Involvement in support of the Holy Warriors of Islam at Bosnia (Read the whole thing two (2) pages), this is also known as the President Clinton (42) Weapons of Mass Destruction Speech.:

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/01/27/sotu/transcripts/clinton/index2.html

President Bush (43) Mission Accomplished Speech Unedited (read all five (5) pages) as NOT the Demoncrap Propaganda (Lies)):

http://articles.cnn.com/2003-05-01/us/bush.transcript_1_general-franks-major-combat-allies?_s=PM:US

Most of us KNEW that President Hussein was the Counterbalance to the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran using his Iraqis Oil Wealth and the lives of the Iraqis Citizens of the Iraqis Military. Later on we repeatedly opposed the 1998 President Clinton by US Law, H.R.4655 Section 3 US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein (Declaration of War with Iraq, just as if the Chinese or Russian declared the Overthrow of President Obama.). After being threatened with jail, we went into Iraq and hired hundreds of thousands of Shia of Iraq (most had previously as Illegal Aliens fled from Iran to Iraq after the Fall of the Shah of Iran and Iran's massive unemployment). This failed due to President Clinton's Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies, so we did not have any local Iraqis intelligence assets to link up with, as many after no longer being US funded to survive and feed their families had become Iraqis Counter Intelligence Agents, Iraqis Military Intelligence, Iraqis Law Enforcement (Iraqis Secret Police), that were waiting for us to attempt something. The hundreds of thousands of Shia Iraqis assassins and insurgents we hired were captured, tried, executed as traitors and dumped into mass graves. President Clinton spun this to "Dictator Massacres His Own People". And yes, this did include many of the Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis of Southern Turkey.

After this failure, President Clinton as Commander In Chief Ordered the 1998 US Military Operation Desert Fox as his Failed attempt at the US Miltiary Overthrow of President Hussein. With President Clinton's belief that by attacking the Iraqis Political Leadership he would have no one to negotiate Peace (the step down of President Hussein); so as Commander In Chief President Clinton ordered the Airstrikes and Cruise Missile Attacks of the Crowded Urban Poor Areas of Baghdad, resulting in the Islamic World condemning the US as the Great Satan, Osama Bin Laden starts planning his 9/11 2001 Attacks of the same targets after President Clinton had previously released Osama Bin Laden after the 1993 First World Trade Center Bombings. From Training, Education, and Experience we warned President Clinton not to mess with the Poor of Islam, so we were restricted from Targeting and only Target Damage Assessments while being at Iraq "Boots on the ground", after the US being declared the Great Satan we had to exfiltrate from Iraq as even the few Pro US Iraqis that we were living with turned against us.

Carryingconcealed - Conservatives aren't anti-liberal per se . . . we're just anti-stupid, and this situation is just more validation that book smarts rarely correlate to functional intelligence.

I got a great idea. We give all the President Obama Voters "Free" vacations to all the former US Ally Nations that were lost due to President Obama's Failed Foreign Policies. That way there will be less of them after they win Darwin Awards, and they will no longer be around to procreate more stup!d offspring (Law of Nature, Extinction).

CONDOLENCES TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY....... I have retired and live temporary in my native country and I'm asked many times "where did you live before " without saying "HI " you are a label of foreigner with extra cash in your pocket and better clothes and CC. in your wallet .I do not go out at night by myself ,or in a strange places day time .You have to use "common sense " you are not in your neighborhood .Your husband and family is not around the corner .OH my God I cannot imagine her husband guilt trip by letting her go,her bravery was used in the wrong places . I cannot understand why people do not learn that M. EAST and surroundings are not for US citizens . Vacation in the strange places is not for solo.Forget the political view we are a target of jealousy (by living better and felling better ) I can see that even in my extended family ,always poked with "you Americans ".

StMiller - David-475776 - I am an extremely well travelled person...have lived overseas

Could careless, when did YOU live with the Turks; and I am NOT talking about just visiting for a few weeks or months nor living separated from the actual Turks at some Hotel.

While Refresher (most of us had already attended US Military Mountain Warfare School (Technical Mountain Climbing) and previous Refresher Mountain Warfare Training with the Deutsche Bundeswehr Commandos)) Mountain Warfare Training with the Turkish Military I lived with the Turks (a Turkish Family), just like when I was going to College at then US Ally Egypt to learn Arabic, then later Islam (taught only in Arabic) I lived with Egyptian Families; as normal training for the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces, as this also gives us trusted (vetted) points of contact within those Nations.

StMiller - The problem is not that some people here express a fear of traveling to places like Turkey, the problem is this ridiculous notion that its any more dangerous than staying at home.

That is a Non Factual Opinion, as after President Obama Incited over 1.5 Billion Islamic Believers Worldwide to Anti US Violence, as "Obama Declared War Against Islam" with his "Osama Bin Laden, GM is Alive" Reelection Campaign, and the Islamic Citizens of Turkey to Anti US Violence "No US Military Patriot Missiles", US Citizens are NOT safer than the US (even Chicago) at ANY Islamic Nation per current US Department of State (information provided to US Department of State by those "On the Ground").

David-so your military based experiences, which certainly could,have jaded your opinions, make you expert enough to say that Americans should be fearful of traveling abroad.

Also, it is fact that an American is more likely to be killed by a homicide here in the States than he would traveling overseas. That's not opinion. Also, its hard to accept you questioning my facts when you say that Clinton "released" Bin Laden after the 1993 Trade Center attacks. You know we never had him in custody right?

Joe,NY, You have a lot to say about other countries, much of it merited, but at the same time we have our own freaks, like bunkerman, who still holds a 5 year old hostage after killing a school bus driver who was simply doing his job. The middle east doesn't have the monopoly on psychopathic killers. How do parents dare to even let their kids out to go to school today?

In My humble opinion I offer the following.... I think maybe what AnnaBananna was talking about in reference to Joe Arpaio was this:

Personally, in my opinion, I have never liked Joe... he is kinda a nut job. Use to have TWO PR people on his staff at $80k+ a year. Very much an ego nut job and a sociopath... not to mention he tends to practice CYA alot... and doesn't seem to know how to make a truthful statement. ... and seems to like to hang with NEO NAZI's including the one that killed a family... including a lil baby.

@ Dee #1.48 :

Yours is the only post on this page that I have read that makes any sense to me.

Amazing how many people there are that can find their way so easily around the elephant in the room without stumbling over it or smelling it, or even realizing that it is there.

A lone American woman does not travel to Turkey to take photographs and have her "first ever dream vacation" while leaving a 9 year old and an 11 year old child and a husband at home unless something very, very bizarre is going on.

How is it, Dee, that there's only two of us on this page with enough common sense to realize that?

You say she took a one-day round trip to Amsterdam from Turkey?

How did you discover that? If that is indeed true, then you hit the nail on the head, almost no doubt.

Or it was something political and clandestine sneaky.

Either way the trip itself has a very bad smell quite apart from its outcome.

StMiller - David-so your military based experiences, which certainly could,have jaded your opinions, make you expert enough to say that Americans should be fearful of traveling abroad.

PFFSSSS!!!! Sound of my boiled egg fart in response to your personal attack "jaded your opinions", as your post also smells.

Unlike you, I do not post uneducated, no firsthand experience, emotive "opinions"; I post verifiable credible FACTS on Newsvine's "Get Smarter Here".

US Department of State Travel Advisory:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html

Turkey:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1046.html

Do you know where the US Department of State got their information for their Travel Advisory, people on the Ground. Just like I previously mentioned about the Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK, Al Quada at Turkey; they got that information from us that was then independently verified becoming intelligence. Like when I was attending College at Egypt living with Egyptian Families also TDA to the US Diplomatic Mission (but never going directly to the US Embassy) and "Wear anything except US Military Attire" and yes, that included authorized wearing beards, mustaches, long hair. This is routine "low risk, low intensity" Training as Special Surveillance and Special Reconnaissance for US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces for later "high risk, high intensity, high value" Missions.

StMiller - Also, its hard to accept you questioning my facts when you say that Clinton "released" Bin Laden after the 1993 Trade Center attacks. You know we never had him in custody right?

Again boiled egg fart smelling uneducated post StMiller. And you don't post ANY facts, just uneducated no research opinions.

After the 1993 First World Trade Center Bombings, Osama Bin Laden was captured by a US Ally, President Clinton refused extradition. The US Ally requested President Clinton provide Evidence of Osama Bin Laden's involvement with the 1993 First World Trade Center Bombings so that they would prosecute Osama Bin Laden (and throw his arse in Prison for Life, they hated Osama Bin Laden), President Clinton refused to provide anything; so without sufficient evidence, the US Ally released Osama Bin Laden.

After being released, US Military Asymmetric Warfare Teams "shadowed" Osama Bin Laden from Nation to Nation, as many Nations refused Osama Bin Laden Asylum. The US Military Asymmetric Warfare Teams keep asking President Clinton for Presidential Authorization to Terminate Osama Bin Laden, so that they can finally go home to their families. President Clinton repeatedly uses the US No Assassination Policy as the excuse. The Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government give Osama Bin Laden Islamic Sanctuary. Due to President Clinton's Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies the US no longer was funding the local Afghan intelligence assets. No one knows where at Afghanistan Osama Bin Laden is nor what he is doing. After giving Fundamentalist Islamic Sanctuary to Osama Bin Laden, the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government locked down Afghanistan tighter than North Korea.

Years later the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Teams that were "shadowing" Osama Bin Laden go Public about having Osama Bin Laden "In their Sights".

1998 Operation Desert Fox as well as before that. Unlike YOU, I was there on the ground with the Teams, since I knew Iraq from previously on the US Military Training Teams to US Ally Iraq during the Iran Iraq Wars. So I saw (trained and experienced observer for our SR and SS Missions) and know what happened, US condemned as the Great Satan.

9/11 2001, President Bush (43) sent in his Executive Intelligence Agency, the CIA, into Afghanistan to Locate and Capture Osama Bin Laden; and Overthrow the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government. This failed miserably, as since President Clinton Gutted the US Intelligence Agencies, the CIA went in "Blind" without local Afghan intelligence asset linkups and current situation intelligence from local intelligence assets. In October 2001 we attached to the CIA's SAD/SOG go into Afghanistan to Overthrow the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government, eliminate the Al Quada and Islamic Jihadist Training Camps that sponsored the 9/11 2001 Attacks:

Unclassified source (verification), that does not mention what we did, the fierce urban warfare in the Afghan Cities, most of us did not survive (what you don't want to advertise):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY

StMiller, I have been doing this Asymmetric Warfare thing a very long time starting with Vietnam as a LRRP/Ranger. After College, I wanted NOTHING to do with Combat, just a comfortable desk job, as I believed I did my "Fair Share" of Combat. I got that desk job in the US Military Career Fields of Nuclear (Weapons) Physics, Biological (Epidemiology), Chemical, Missiles, Conventional Munitions (including EOD), etc.. Due to the then upcoming START, SALT, Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, ABM Treaty, etc. I had to switch US Military Career Fields. I had previously learned Farsi, as I believed that after we got kicked out of Iran (1979) we would NEVER go back to there; and I did not want to learn Russian to fight the Russians (USSR and WARSAW Pact's 101 Divisions). Someone found out I was previously a LRRP/Ranger (usually Special Reconnaissance, Special Surveillance, Targeting Missions) so I was given the choice of be US Military Asymmetric Warfare Officer Career Field (aka Special Warfare, definitely not a desk job) or tender my Letter of Resignation. Then the sh!t hit the fan, the Iran Iraq Wars, as US Ally Iraq, USSR Ally Iran; as well as the USSR 40th Army Invasion of Afghanistan; throughout the US Military plus the Agencies the call went out anyone with (tested) knowledge of Arabic, Farsi, Pashtu, Dari, etc.; almost a thousand of us were gathered together formed into US Military Training Teams, we were not told what was going on (fear of the unknown). We were combined into the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Teams, most of the Team Leaders did not have actual Combat experience except low intensity short duration Operations, so I ended up in charge of two Teams since I had previous Combat experience as a LRRP/Ranger. Even after we got on the planes we did not know our Mission nor even were we were going (piss poor leadership from above), we only found out our Mission after we landed at Baghdad International Airport. We later found out that the other half of the almost thousand ended up with Operation Cyclone, after we rotated with them (my fear of fighting the USSR). Afterwards, as a reward I got to be assigned to the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Europe and SHAPE, to conduct the Retrogrades of the Nuclear and Chemical Weapons (including Operation Golden Python and Operation Steel Box). From then until now, as Recalled to Active Duty many times in the Special Category (not voluntary), US Military Asymmetric Warfare (tried to get out of that many times, that only made them want me more, as my wanting to get the job done (results no excuses) so I can go back on retirement). Prior to October 2001, after the 9/11 2001 Attacks, I did volunteer eventhough I had a comfortable US Military desk job at D.C., as many of us that either Retired or were RIF'ed by President Clinton, became US Law Enforcement, Firefighters, EMTs/EMS to continue to Serve, with NYC hiring the most US Military Veterans, we lost many friends made in combat). Since those days, of the almost thousand of us that started with the US Military Training Teams only a few of us survived.

And yes, unlike the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces, living on secure FOBs, COBs, USAF Airbases, Green zones, etc. living separated from the locals; we still live with the locals. So stop with your opinions, post firsthand experience facts (verifiable thru unclassified sources) or actual researched facts (multiple sources to verify each source, including "following the money" for the actual sites or sources).

I find it comical reading a post about how you are more likely to die of homicide in the US than abroad. That is a blank statistic without reference.

The fact is that homicides in any city are typically in economically challenged areas with the majority of those living there in poverty. Most of those crimes are committed with illegally obtained firearms. The cities with the highest homicide rates are typically ones with the highest gun control laws in place, like Chicago for instance.

The closest metro area to me had 52 homicides last year. Only 12 occurred outside the traditional low income areas. 27 occurred in an area that no one in their right mind would ever go out in the street after dark alone. If you looked at the neighborhood, you would be looking next for the fastest way out.

It's the same pattern all over the country, just look for yourselves. There are homicide location maps and income maps for every major city in the US if you just look for them.

The point is that in America, we can look out our window as we travel and know immediately if the risk is higher. We don't always know when we travel outside the US where it is safe or not safe. Add the fact that we might have 3 or 4 thousand worth of camera equipment on our person like this woman probably did, dress well, not speak the langauge and not have a companion with us, you are a target. Pure and simple.

Sorry, double post due to server error.

All of you want to talk about how unsafe it is for a lone American woman to be travelling to other countries, perhaps you need to know what it feels like to be in the USA as a lone American woman.

I have been on my own since I graduated high school in New Hampshire 22 years ago. I lived on Martha's Vineyard for 4 years where I was physically beaten by a boyfriend. I moved to New York City to attend college; NYC was a major culture shock for me. I could not look outside my apartment window and stare at Central Park. The only time I ever heard Central Park on the news in NH was about a rapist on the lose or from watching the new series Law & Order. Later I moved to New Jersey in a nice quiet town. Living 300 miles away from home was not easy; who do you trust in a strange place where you know no one? In my years of living in this small town I have dealt with two rapists...the first was a friend of the guy I just started seeing, the second was a friend/co-worker where I worked in NYC. Statistics show women are more likely to be raped/assaulted by men they know. I also had a landlord that was stalking me. Another landlord did not like me standing up for my rights as a tenant each time I sued him to fix hazardous issues in the complex or my apartment (a non-working fire alarm system, 9 foot crack in my ceiling, icy driveway that had not been salted for 4 days after a winter storm, and a maintenace worker who was in my apartment without my permission whose finger prints were found on my dresser - disgusting). He thought he could jam my locks to teach me a lesson. That plan backfired on him because little did he know I have Cystic Fibrosis. That day he decided to jam my locks with super glue was a hot humid summer day that I needed to use my oxygen and urgently get to my medications I take through a nebulizer. As I struggled to breathe I could not get the key into the lock, I began to panic because I was already struggling to breathe. I dialed 911, a detective took me to the nearby emergency room by this time I was blue and unconscience. To show him who he was dealing with (I was a former paralegal that dealt with landlord/tenant issues) I sent a letter to my insurance company with a copy of the police report and a cancelled check, copy of the receipt to replace the lock showing he accepted the deduction from that month's rent which is admitting to jamming the locks). The insurance company sued him...won and again but bigger at the appellet level when he tried to appeal the first outcome. Since then...it's been about 5 years, anything that goes wrong in my apartment he is quick to fix. He was lucky I dropped the charges for assault. Both judges in the case reminded him that he should be thankful I am alive today otherwise he could have been facing manslaughter charges. And my most recent issue was dealing with an internet stalker/harasser who sent lengthy emails and text messages threatening to harm me. The guy owns a gun, a pilot's license and makes a 6-figure salary. No one could ever tell if he really would have made good on his threats by flying to NJ from Texas, it is a precaution we need to heed. You never really know people.

So my point is, no single woman or any woman is safe no matter where she is...home in the USA or abroad. Don't be so naive and think we are safe in the good old USA. We are only as safe as the company we keep. And remember, a woman has a much higher chance of losing her life or being assaulted by a man she knows or is in a relationship with. Those are the real facts!!!

...

Reading through most of these comments here, almost makes me laugh. I am from Europe. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of visiting the US is the risk of being killed by some trigger-happy, paranoid US citizen. I feel awful for what happend to this lady, but it can happen anyday, anywhere because - guess what - people are people. You just don't seem to know that and that makes you suspicious, my friends. Not everyone who "dislikes" Americans is a terrorist. There are plenty of far simpler reasons. Think about it if you can!

@ call me senator shmoe:

More bullshi*! You didn't serve this great country of ours! I love how you America bashers always claim to be ex-military - like that will cover for what bullsh*t you say.

bisam,

Thanks for your post. I thought the same thing when I read some of these ridiculous comments.

Thirty years ago, my sister-in-law from Cairo said that everyone she knew in the Middle East or Europe was afraid to travel to the United States because it is such a violent country.

looks like life was stopped for her "COLD TURKEY" !

I take it you never served by your moronic response @hopeful American...and I wasn't bashing all things American per se , just the ignorance of other cultures and traditions that seem foreign to ours. from to many closed minds that assume things out of fear and hearsay instead of 1st hand knowledge & experience...and I will bash America if I choose to , I earned that right . I didn't see or know you over in Korat , Thailand in the 347th provisional wing or in the 27thTFW at Cannon AFB or the 48th TFW at RAF Lakenheath....I have seen alot of the world and I never had an issue with the indigenous populace any where I went...but I bet you would @hopeful American ?....what have you done to ensure & defend any of our rights..I contributed by helping to maintain the "tip of the spear" of our fighter-bombers.? except superficial flag waving & rah rah loudmouthed talk , how about you ?, maybe ya got an American flag pin or a car sticker ? a regular Limbaugh cultist I bet...either that or a koolader follower of the Clinton's ? which is one and the same to me numb nuts ? talk the talk but don't walk the walk and lie like hell...and I also think both Obama and Bush have been absolutely appalling as POTUS's...and the senate and the house is mostly a rogues gallery of dishonorable turds & cowards....and you can say that too if you choose , because of me and millions of other Vets that thru team effort made sure you can....

David - Put a sock in it, little man. Your rants are becoming seriously closer and closer to the edge of insanity. I fear for you and yours. Just an opinion but if you were in the military, I am the Queen of England.

@ Kim H:

Most tellingly, David posted his long obfuscating diatribe immediately after my post above, quoted below. For some deliberate reason, I think. Someone (and their "higher-ups") is frantic that my post be quickly missed, skipped over, not be read by too many people. This frantic scattering of the tracks to bury my post points too directly and consistently at the only two reasonable possibilities in this case. And the potential relationship between these two possibilities, I might add.

Can you say,

" CIA " or

" DRUGS "

@ Dee #1.48 :

Yours is the only post on this page that I have read that makes any sense to me.

Amazing how many people there are that can find their way so easily around the elephant in the room without stumbling over it or smelling it, or even realizing that it is there.

A lone American woman does not travel to Turkey to take photographs and have her "first ever dream vacation" while leaving a 9 year old and an 11 year old child and a husband at home unless something very, very bizarre is going on.

How is it, Dee, that there's only two of us on this page with enough common sense to realize that?

You say she took a one-day round trip to Amsterdam from Turkey?

How did you discover that? If that is indeed true, then you hit the nail on the head, almost no doubt.

Or it was something political and clandestine sneaky.

Either way the trip itself has a very bad smell quite apart from its outcome.

• !

#1.84 - Sun Feb 3, 2013 4:35 AM MST

Dee...you have have a point. When I think about it I think the friend bowed out of the trip because she smelled a rat. Never would I have gone alone...my husband actually would not have let my friend and I go to Turkey. Period. It is too dangerous. I was suspicious when the media first said she was on a one day trip to Germany and another to Amersterdam. I hope that we hear the entire story some day.

What percentage of US tourists are victims of homicide abroad? It's exceedingly low. It's difficult to find stories about US tourists murdered abroad and while it does happen it is simply not as rampant as people on this board would have you think. Hands down you're more likely to be killed here in America regardless of whether or not you know the areas around you and their relative safety.

David - which US ally held Bin Laden. Provide a cite. I notice now that its a US ally that held him and not us as you said before. All of your military background does not refute the fact that a country like Turkey has a lower homicide rate than America does hence a person be it tourist or not is less likely to be a victim of homicide in Turkey compared to America.

Turkey is the 6th most visited country in the world...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_rankings
33 million tourists

There were four Americans killed in Turkey by homicide in Turkey from Oct 2002 to June 2012.
http://travel.state.gov/law/family_issues/death/death_600.html?country=0

Ergo, it is not by any stretch of the imagination a dangerous destination for tourists including Americans. The fear mongering on this board is ridiculous.

kimH-1330542- Sarah - Are you an attorney?

Sarah-3043284, - - Kim, Not yet. ;) Working towards it.

Attorneys, Lawyers, by Training Win Their Arguements by any means, including exclusion of Facts as Irrelevant, Errors of Omission (Aka Legalese term for LIES).

Examples:

lilirocks - @Sarah-3043284 - If you look at David's homepage you would see he is seriously ill up there on the roof and he lives somewhere in La-la land he calls his military home.

Sarah-3043284, - - Lili, Thanks for the heads up. And in case you didn't know, I'm a brain surgeon, with a PhD in theoretical physics from Oxford which I received when I was twelve. I've also climbed Everest, turned down a marriage proposal from Channing Tatum and once saved a baby from the jaws of a great white shark.

What the hell a baby was doing in the ocean was beyond me. ;) 2 votes#1.195 - Fri Feb 1, 2013 9:59 PM EST

As anyone that is smarter then them only already KNOWS

to click on the upper left corner david-475776

With my "homepage" stating":

Profile
david-475776

david-475776 has not filled out a bio yet.

got something for you to watch and learn from kimH-1330542, Sarah-3043284, et al.,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSkv_29Rncg

Even if it was attempt at sarcasm Sarah-3043284,, easily proven false by clicking on Sarah-3043284

By Sarah-3043284, -For Charlie: I'm the kind of girl that gets the caramel from her candy apple, up her nose. I once washed the base of my coffee pot while it was still plugged in, and but for the grace of whatever God there is, I didn't accidentally hit the on "on" button and electrocute myself right into whatever afterlife there is. I'm in love with the wrong man, and I have been since I was old enough to realize I like men.

http://sarah3043284.newsvine.com/_news/2012/11/04/14914276-for-charlie

lilirocks - I'm a former flight attendant for United Airlines and now own a franchise with my husband, pilot from the same airline and former U.S.A.F.

The rest at, can see why lilirocks must attempt to denegrate others:

http://lilirocks.newsvine.com/?more=About

kimH-1330542 go troll someone else, and take your smart as boxes of rocks with you or at least go buy Sarah-3043284 a child proof coffee pot, your posts to left:

http://kimh49.newsvine.com/

StMiller - David - which US ally held Bin Laden. Provide a cite.

I did before, I am TIRED OF SPOON FEEDING EVERYONE. I discussed the whole thing in detail, who, what, where, why, when, how, etc.. Including who (while they were part of the CIA's SAD/SOG) was "shadowing" OBL all over the World, and the US News they were on afterwards. Go ask kimH-1330542 - "I am the Queen of England."

And what happened, more f**ked up name calling, "post too long", etc.. Just like kimH-1330542 #1.95.

Regardless of:

President Obama's 2013 Inaugural Speech:

We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate.

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/21/16626094-obamas-inaugural-speech-the-full-text?threadId=3650897&commentId=73569137#c73569137

StMiller,

Unclassifed:

Population Turkey: 79,749,461

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tu.html

Population USA: 313,847,465 (July 2012 est.)

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

The CIA is the President's Own Executive Intelligence Agency.

Wikipedia Disclaimer:

WIKIPEDIA MAKES NO GUARANTEE OF VALIDITY

Please be advised that nothing found here has necessarily been reviewed by people with the expertise required to provide you with complete, accurate or reliable information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer

As far as the Violence directed at US Citizens, making Turkey more Dangerous than the US:

mimi jacques - 2 people dead- the suspected suicide bomber and the security guard at the x-ray machine at US Embassy's entrance for personnel and visitors. Of note- there was a power outage in the area. 2 other people injured in the explosion. Embassy personnel taken to saferooms since police think there might be a 2nd attack. This happened in Ankara. SECURITY CAMERAS NOT RECORDING due to power outage. Turks have been demonstrating against NATO Patriot Missiles at the Turkey/Syria border and even tried to 'sack' German personnel (put them in sacks). Stay with the latest- go to

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/

#22 - Fri Feb 1, 2013 2:42 AM HST

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/01/16804949-us-embassy-compound-in-turkey-hit-by-terrorist-attack?threadId=3657673&commentId=73942217#c73942217

Ms. Sarai Sierra "just happened" to be at Turkey when everything turned Anti US. FYI, usually American Journalists and or "Tourists" are automatically suspected CIA Agents; if they start wagging a finger at you screaming "Israelis", "Israelis" do not stand there arguing that you are NOT, if they pulled your pants off to see if you are circumcised pull you pants up and RUN LIKE A MUTHER F**KER for your Life, preplan your route to the nearest US Consulate, US Military Installation or US Embassy, know where you are at all times (in your head), know the local important telephone numbers and addresses. And NEVER ever use a "Jew Name".

JohnThinks,

That was NEVER the intent of my posts. I was previously stating the situation at Turkey.

And replying to StMiller, like this post.

I was called a "Conspiracy Theorist", "Wearing A Tin Foil Hat", etc. when I discussed the coincidences of the previous US Hikers at the Fundamentalist Islamic Autonomous Kurdistanis Region of Northern Iraq, Syria, Southern Turkey, Northwestern Iran; and had to prove that I had been there before during Operation Viking, as well as later refresher training with the Turkish Military (that area is so harsh that you don't go there unless you must). And during the Iran Iraq Wars the Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis were the Armed Allies of the USSR Backed Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran. To this day, the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran's Special Forces, Quds, has been training millions of Holy Warriors of Islam at the Fundamentalist Islamic Autonomous Kurdistanis Region, so it would be more than likely that the US Hikers saw something, and the Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis grabbed the US Hikers and turned them over to the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran's Special Forces, Quds, told they had wandered over the Border and taken to the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran. The Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK then get more Funding, Arms, Training from Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran as a Reward, US then pays the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran for the release of the "US Spies" or they will be tried as Spies and executed, the money from the US then also used to pay the rewards to the Fundamentalist Islamic Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK. Also in that area across the Border at the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran is:

http://www.bing.com/images/results.aspx?q=iran+nuclear+sites&form=MSNH14#view=detail&id=7AFA00961A14F7C7CC4113096217367906126D66&selectedIndex=2

That photo (map) is as far as I can discuss. Eventhough there is much more that is actually unclassified on the internet. Cannot connect the dots for you, nor explain without consequences; maybe you can figure things out yourself.

The same name calling also occured when I discussed the Retired FBI agent Robert Levinson, caught at Iran's island of Kish Iran. During that time the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran was installing brand new Anti Ship Missile Batteries and Intergrated Anti Aircraft Missile Systems (to protect their new Long Range Hypersonic and Supersonic Anti Ship Missile Batteries) bought from the Chinese and Russian Federation. We also know the Chinese and Russian Military Units at Iran, mostly providing maintenance of the new Iranian Weapons Systems. Also there at the time was one of these possible with Russian Federation Supercavitating Torpedoes, Chinese Self Rising Rocket Assisted Remote Controlled Underwater Mines, etc.:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2009/06/01/Iran-commissions-stealth-submarine/UPI-14511243879812/

Not to say too much, zoom this map out, to see the relationships. Dubai, U.A.E. mostly pro US, that leaves Qatar that plays both sides. Translation unlike before during the Iran Iraq Wars (lesson learned by Iran; but, forgotten by the US) controlling the Strait of Hormuz. Also Qeshm Island.

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=kish+iran&mkt=en&FORM=HDRSC4

My "higher up" and I have more important things to worry about, other events currently happening at the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran, than Monitoring and Censoring all US Communications (another "No Such Agency", Cyberwarfare Directorate does that and coordinates with US Law Enforcement).

david-475776 - Wikipedia is a completely acceptable source for information like travel statistics. Also, the other link I provided for you was the US State Department's own site. Humor me and quote the post where you give the specific name of the US ally that held and released Bin Laden.

P.S. I have never called you a name in my posts other than david-475776.

StMiller - david-475776- Wikipedia is a completely acceptable source for information like travel statistics.

In plain American English example: You read on a container of "Food" in a Super Market the contents, from the Manufacturers Label: "This Product Contains No Food Products And Nothing of Nutritional Value".

So the Wikipedia Disclaimer:

WIKIPEDIA MAKES NO GUARANTEE OF VALIDITY

Please be advised that nothing found here has necessarily been reviewed by people with the expertise required to provide you with complete, accurate or reliable information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer

You cannot claim Wikipedia validity while Wikipedia is saying NO Guarantee of Validity.

david-475776 - BS. You say that all you post is verifiable facts, but you won't even back up your supposed "fact" that a US ally held Bin Laden and released him on Clinton's directive. I have asked you for the ally's name multiple times, but you won't provide it. Then you get into silliness by questioning Wikipedia as a source for something as trivial as tourist figures. Do you doubt that Turkey had 33 million tourists? Is that number bugging you for some reason or are you just being petty. And I can't even believe that that guy that claims literally that he isn't 'allowed' to give any more specifics because we're all supposed to believe that he is so deep in the know. You can believe this David...no one thinks a person that important and deep in the information is going to be out here posting on Newsvine!! You even used that most contrived of mock intellectual lines..."follow the money". Ugh...That's an instant indication that there is no fact in the post.

But here is my favorite line of your posts..."My "higher up" and I have more important things to worry about..."

wow...wow...