Britain says second diplomat killed in Turkey

Reuters ^ | 11/20/03

[areafiftyone]

LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The British government said it believed a second member of its diplomatic staff had been killed in Thursday's bomb blasts in Turkey, in addition to consul-general Roger Short.

It named her as Lisa Hallworth, without giving further details.

"Although there are no absolute identifications (the Foreign Office is) reluctantly coming to the conclusion that a number of staff both British and Turkish at the British consulate-general have lost their lives in this terrible tragedy," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who was due to arrive in Turkey later, described the deaths in the same statement as "deeply shocking".

"They posed a threat to no one. They were working in Istanbul to help British and Turkish citizens alike in support of the strong relations between our two countries," he said.

"The pain of these deaths is felt in London and at our posts across the world."

Turkish officials said at least 27 people were killed when suicide truck bombers attacked the British consulate and HSBC bank in Istanbul.

It was not clear whether Hallworth was included in that figure. The Foreign Office said it had yet to establish a definitive toll.

[bonny011765]

Turkish officials said at least 27 people were killed when suicide truck bombers attacked the British consulate and HSBC bank in Istanbul

Turkey should have supported Brits and US in Iraq war by allowing troops entry via their territory.

[Rutles4Ever]

because then this wouldn't have happened?

[Coop]

Turkey should have supported Brits and US in Iraq war by allowing troops entry via their territory.

Your comment sounds as if you feel Turkey has been punished for not supporting the Coalition. I find it quite inappropriate. Nobody deserves this, except terrorists themselves.

[wizardoz]

Turkey should have supported Brits and US in Iraq war by allowing troops entry via their territory.

[Because then this wouldn't have happened?]

Because they did it in hopes of avoiding angering Muslims, and fat lot of good it did them. And if they'd been more helpful, Al Qaeda might be less capable of such attacks.

[RightWhale]

Because they did it in hopes of avoiding angering Muslims

That isn't it. Turkey had already invaded Iraq frequently over the past ten years. Whatever the reason was, political or whatever, it was realized through legislative maneuvers by an incoherent group within the government.

[wizardoz]

They did not want to be seen as puppets of the US. Okay, so fine. Now they find out that it doesn't matter either way. I'm only sorry they trusted their psychotic brethern more than they trusted us. I guess now they know better.

[RightWhale]

Yes, they are a country with their own regime. No way they are going to rubberstamp everything, even if there is a $ multibillion bribe aid package attached.

[wizardoz]

Hey, if they want to cut off their nose to spite their face, I certainly can't stop them. But I think we'll see them come limping along, noseless, pretty quick now.

[WoofDog123]

"Turkish officials said at least 27 people were killed when suicide truck bombers attacked the British consulate and HSBC bank in Istanbul

Turkey should have supported Brits and US in Iraq war by allowing troops entry via their territory."

I am missing something. How is this bombing a consequence of their failure to sign up for the iraq invasion?

[Rutles4Ever]

I somehow doubt that the fearsome Turkish military would have done anything useful except create a second conflict with the Kurds in the north. The U.S. military made it to Baghdad in record time -- exactly how would Turkey have made things any easier?

I know we were all upset that they voted down a right-of-way for our military through their country, but the Turks are in a position not unsimilar to Hosni Mubarak in Egypt -- a predominantly secular Muslim society with some very insidious Islamist organizations creeping around in the mist. Obviously, these terrorist attacks will only fuel mainstream Muslim anger against these radical groups, but it would be pretty lousy to shake our finger at them and say, "told 'ya so!"

Now it's their problem, too. We need to support them.

[wizardoz]

I know we were all upset that they voted down a right-of-way for our military through their country, but the Turks are in a position not unsimilar to Hosni Mubarak in Egypt -- a predominantly secular Muslim society with some very insidious Islamist organizations creeping around in the mist.

So they decided to appease them by turning on us.

Obviously, these terrorist attacks will only fuel mainstream Muslim anger against these radical groups, but it would be pretty lousy to shake our finger at them and say, "told 'ya so!"

[shaking finger] But we told them so.

[Rutles4Ever]

I guess I don't see how they "turned on us". I think this stems from the fact that NATO absolutely disintegrated with "Old Europe", and Turkey, who is not in an enviable geographic position, could not count on any other members of NATO to actually fulfill their duty and come to their defense should fighting spill into their country or conflagrate with Syria. I'm not trying to be an apologist for Turkey, but the leaderships had to follow the will of their Parliament (and they admitted that to their own chagrine) and that's democracy in action...

[wizardoz]

I'm not saying the leadership should have ignored parliament, I'm saying the parliament (and perhaps the people of Turkey) bought into European and Muslim anti-Americanism, and for that I am NOT much inclined to smile on them.

That's how I feel and that's how I'm going to feel for a good long time. I'm not entirely sure why you feel compelled to try and talk me out of my resentment, as my feelings aren't going to hurt the Turks in the slightest...