Time to get the hell out of here?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

No, I don't mean 'poly...

On 3/19, just before the shooting started, the State Dept. announced that it

has authorized the departure, on a voluntary basis, of family members and non-emergency personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul and the U.S. Consulates in Adana and Izmir. Due to heightened tensions and increased security concerns resulting from the current situation in the region, the Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Turkey. U.S. citizens in Turkey should consider departing.

Now, one of my colleagues here (who has lots of embassy connections) just called me to let me know that "should consider departing" has been upgraded to "are strongly encouraged to leave," and that the ambassador is holding a public meeting with American citizens on Monday to spell out just what that means. (This will be only the second time he's ever done this; the first was after 9/11)



I don't think Saddam's going to target Turkey for anything, and any chaos on the Iraqi border will be far away from here. I also don't think that Americans are in much danger in Ankara, if only because the Turkish military wouldn't stand for that. But still...

And if we leave, my wife and I will both be unemployed in this lovely economy; we won't even have a place to live, since the house we own in the States is rented out.

Obviously we have to wait for the meeting, but this is pretty much going to kill any shot I have of sleeping this weekend. Anybody else ever found himself in this unhappy situation? When do you know it's time to bug out? Help!

[Ozz]

Oh come on, the house is payin' for itself and yer both
adults. take 2 weeks holiday and the worst will be over.

Eithier your employer understands or does'nt give a rats
ass what happens to you, eithier way you got no future
if yer dead, so f' em and bug out now.

[SlowwHand]

If you stay, it's on you.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
If you stay, it's on you.

Gee, thanks. That hadn't occurred to me.

[DanS]

It seems sort of odd to wait until Monday to give you the lowdown, don't you think?

There is ongoing, but failing discussions between US and Turky regarding overflight. Don't know if that will spill over into other things.

[HershOstropoler]

What exactly is your concern? Terrorism? Riots?

[Arrian]

Best of luck, whatever you do, Rufus.

-Arrian

[Ozz]

Originally posted by SlowwHand If you stay, it's on you.

Your wife too.

[SlowwHand]

I wasn't trying to particularly be a wise guy, guess that comes naturally.

Just saying, they advised. Take the advice.

[MarkG]

I'm with the "go away on holidays" idea. come to greece!

[Spec]

Urely you'll have a compensation from your employer....right?

[Messer Niccolò]

Originally posted by Ozz
Oh come on, the house is payin' for itself and yer both
adults. take 2 weeks holiday and the worst will be over.

Eithier your employer understands or does'nt give a rats
ass what happens to you, eithier way you got no future
if yer dead, so f' em and bug out now.

... Rufus, Ozz is right.
Just wait till monday, have your meeting, then decide together with your wife.
You can always take 2/3 weeks of holidays in Greece or in Italy then you can decide what to do based on what the situation will be.

My fingers are crossed for you...

[Tolls]

Is Turkey going to be a more dangerous place than Kuwait?
If not then I'd stay...

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Yes, I do think it's strange to wait until Monday; it seems to imply a lack of urgency which is at odds with the urgent tone of the warning. I also simply can't' fathom what the perceived threat is...and that worries me morer than anything.

I wish I could just take a couple of weeks off, as Ozz suggests, but as a professor there's really no way to do that. (edit: by which I mean that, if I cancel 2-3 weeks of classes -- in violation of Turkish law, believe it or not --I don't think I'd be asked back afterwards)

[Willem]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
Yes, I do think it's strange to wait until Monday; it seems to imply a lack of urgency which is at odds with the urgent tone of the warning. I also simply can't' fathom what the perceived threat is...and that worries me morer than anything.

That's not hard to figure out. If what I've been reading is correct, alot of people are strongly opposed to the war, and the authorities are probably concerned that they may not be able to contain any protests. As long as there are Americans there, they will act as a potential flashpoint.

I'd say get out of there now. Pack your bags, hang out on a nice quiet beach somewhere for awhile.