At Least 10 Dead in 'Massive' Istanbul Tourist Zone Blast

[mongers]

I think those are Australians, not a criticism of you but a footnote.

Another plus, getting to meet the other expats.

Are they Australians, I was just guesing, based on the hats, utility belts and what might be an FN FAL/SLR magazine.

Boonie hats were typical for American soldiers in Vietnam.  I see an M60 Machine gun and a M79 grenade launcher.  Both weapons were used by both nations.  So really it could be either.

Yes. What's tipping it for me in the directions of the Aussies if the squareness of the magazine on the rifle and the way a bayonet it attached, looks a bit like an SLR (or whatever the aussie version was called), not sure that an M16 or earlier US rifle would look like that?

[dps]

I'm planning a trip ending in Istanbul for March/April 

I had been thinking of it for sometime between Feb and April.

I'm going ahead with planning for now. The trip is not really about Istanbul, it's just the last destination.

Well, let's hope not.

[Admiral Yi]

Yes. What's tipping it for me in the directions of the Aussies if the squareness of the magazine on the rifle and the way a bayonet it attached, looks a bit like an SLR (or whatever the aussie version was called), not sure that an M16 or earlier US rifle would look like that?

Looks like an M14 to me.  Not at all like an FN.

[mongers]

Is Turkey about to reap the whirlwind of it's dalliance with IS in the past?

If you see what I mean.

[Razgovory]

I think those are Australians, not a criticism of you but a footnote.

Another plus, getting to meet the other expats.

Are they Australians, I was just guesing, based on the hats, utility belts and what might be an FN FAL/SLR magazine.

Boonie hats were typical for American soldiers in Vietnam.  I see an M60 Machine gun and a M79 grenade launcher.  Both weapons were used by both nations.  So really it could be either.

Yes. What's tipping it for me in the directions of the Aussies if the squareness of the magazine on the rifle and the way a bayonet it attached, looks a bit like an SLR (or whatever the aussie version was called), not sure that an M16 or earlier US rifle would look like that?

I found photos of Aussies using M16s.  Patrols often took whatever weapons they thought best.  The photo says it was Phuoc tuy province was was the hub of Australian activity for Vietnam, so you very well be right.

[mongers]

I think those are Australians, not a criticism of you but a footnote.

Another plus, getting to meet the other expats.

Are they Australians, I was just guesing, based on the hats, utility belts and what might be an FN FAL/SLR magazine.

Boonie hats were typical for American soldiers in Vietnam.  I see an M60 Machine gun and a M79 grenade launcher.  Both weapons were used by both nations.  So really it could be either.

Yes. What's tipping it for me in the directions of the Aussies if the squareness of the magazine on the rifle and the way a bayonet it attached, looks a bit like an SLR (or whatever the aussie version was called), not sure that an M16 or earlier US rifle would look like that?

I found photos of Aussies using M16s.  Patrols often took whatever weapons they thought best.  The photo says it was Phuoc tuy province was was the hub of Australian activity for Vietnam, so you very well be right.

Earlier found this Australian government website about their involvement in Vietnam, there's some rather good content on it, especially an even handed series of pages about their Vietnam myths, here:

http://vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au/vietnam-war/index.php

[Tamas]

3 Russian citizens have been arrested in Turkey in relation to the explosion.

[Eddie Teach]

Well I guess it isn't everyday you get to have people talk about owning you.

On the internet?

[jimmy olsen]

3 Russian citizens have been arrested in Turkey in relation to the explosion.

Chechens or are they accusing the Russian government of being behind it?

[garbon]

Well I guess it isn't everyday you get to have people talk about owning you.

On the internet?

Languish is the most juvenile place I go.

[Zanza]

It's amazing how the Turkish police could identify the perpetrator within a few hours and then arrest 68 people who supported him within a day. Hats off to the efficiency of the Turkish police!

[Iormlund]

Unlike traditional terrorists (IRA, ETA, etc) Islamists seem to care little about concealing their operations and keeping their networks alive. Or they are rather bad at it. I can't think of a cell that has not been dismantled in days following a significant bombing in the West.

[Josquius]

Unlike traditional terrorists (IRA, ETA, etc) Islamists seem to care little about concealing their operations and keeping their networks alive. Or they are rather bad at it. I can't think of a cell that has not been dismantled in days following a significant bombing in the West.

I guess when ye olde scum did their bombings they were usually stealthy affairs with bombs placed in bins and maybe the occasional description of "A dark haired guy in a green jacket looking a bit sketchy", not the terrorist running into a crowded area in full view of CCTV and blowing themselves up.

That is something I wonder about- in our modern age of much more efficient surveillance how effective would conventional, non-suicidal, terrorists be.

[Razgovory]

Unlike traditional terrorists (IRA, ETA, etc) Islamists seem to care little about concealing their operations and keeping their networks alive. Or they are rather bad at it. I can't think of a cell that has not been dismantled in days following a significant bombing in the West.

They often had some Soviet help.  Those guys were pretty good at trade craft.  When trained, the Islamists seem to get nothing more then some basic technical expertise.  How to use weapons and how build and set off a bomb.  As for the building networks, I think it's pretty much amateur hour.