Istanbul airport explosions: 10 dead, Justice minister says

One of my best friends from high school was scheduled to leave from this airport 6 hours from now with his family to fly back to the States for a visit. They're okay, travel plans are uncertain, but they'll hopefully get here safe at some point. I think of the people at the airport who weren't so lucky and how their loved ones must feel getting the worst news; it boggles my mind how callous we humans are at the pain and suffering we cause others with so little thought.

I asked my friend once if he felt safe living there. He said absolutely - no less safe than living in a busy US city. I worry, but I know he's right. In the time he's lived there, two of my high school classmates have died here in the US - both suddenly from health issues and both younger than he. There are no guarantees.

Istanbul airport explosions: 10 dead, Justice minister says
By Mohammed Tawfeeq and Gul Tuysuz, CNN
Updated 4:50 PM ET, Tue June 28, 2016

At least 10 people have been killed and 20 others injured in the attack at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag told CNN.

The two suicide bombers were also killed. Bozdag said one attacker "first opened fire with a Kalashnikov then detonated himself" at the airport entrance.

Turkey has been rocked by a string of terror attacks over the past year as it weathers bombing campaigns carried out both by ISIS and Kurdish militants.

I asked him when he came to visit Denver last summer and during a lot more Kurdish attacks that were happening.

My point was that we never know when our number is up. People die driving to work or home every day, hiking in the park, etc. The flu kills tens of thousands every year. In a city like Istanbul, statistically speaking, it's not that much higher of a risk of dying from a terrorist attack than if you live in New York City. Over 3,000 people died on 9/11; 10 people died in this attack - you have to have a lot more attacks over 15 years to equal that one attack.

In my friend's every day life, going to work as a teacher in a public school, playing volleyball in a league, shopping, going to the park with his daughter and wife, eating out, what have you - he does not feel any less safe because he lives there or because he is an American living there. I attended his wedding 6 years ago and spent 2 weeks traveling around Turkey, I never once felt unsafe nor did I go to areas where it was ill-advised. Just like you don't walk a dark alley alone in a big city, you stay smart about where you go and you don't let the terrorists change your life or they win. Keep in mind that the media distorts our world view of what life is truly like for any single individual in any given place because all that they are reporting is the conflict, blood, and death.

Ramage, I'm glad you mentioned the PM. It's a little surprising to me considering how unpopular he was when I was there last, and that sentiment has continued to persist from what little I've read, that he is still in power.