Were the American cyclists killed in Tajikistan naive for traveling there

Canada Goose Outlet On July 29, five terrorists in Tajikistan rammed a car into a group of seven canada goose jacket uk Western cyclists, then set upon them with knives. Four of the cyclists were killed: two from canada goose uk site the United States, one from Switzerland and one from the Netherlands. Whoever is responsible, the attack was the first terrorist assault against Western tourists in Tajikistan. Canada Goose Outlet

canada goose deals Jay Austin, 29, shown in an undated photo, lived in a tiny house in Northeast Washington to save money for traveling. He was killed in Tajikistan on July 29. (Family photo) canada goose deals

Discussions about the attack on news and social media websites quickly turned into impassioned debates about whether the American couple was naive for traveling in Tajikistan. A typical comment on a canada goose clothing uk Washington Post article read: “Their deaths are senseless and canada goose parka uk tragic, but could have been avoided if they had used more judgment in planning their travel itinerary. Prayers for the families.”

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buy canada goose jacket cheap Experts on the region, however, reject the idea that the Americans were naive. “Central Asia generally is fairly safe,” said Paul Stronski, a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “This canada goose parka outlet is a region where the countries are very strong security and police states, so we have not seen the same sorts canada goose outlet orlando of large scale terrorist canada goose outlet parka attacks” as in other regions of the world. Tajikistan is one of five neighboring former Soviet republics the others are Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. buy canada goose jacket cheap

Canada Goose Jackets The two Americans killed, Lauren Geoghegan and Jay Austin, both 29, were from the District. Austin appeared on the cover of The Washington Post Magazine in June 2015 as part of a story on tiny houses; his reason for living canada goose discount uk in one was to have more money available for traveling. travel advisory for Tajikistan on July29, according to a State Department official, was at Level1, the lowest, which means Americans traveling in the country should “exercise normal precautions.” (On Aug.3, the advisory was raised to Level2: “Exercise increased caution.”) Canada Goose Jackets

canada goose clearance Though he said the country is generally safe for Westerners, Stronski described Tajikistan as “very much a dysfunctional state.” It has a repressive central government, Stronski said, many corrupt border officials and a poor canada goose outlet toronto address citizenry reliant on money sent home by relatives working elsewhere, usually in Russia, or earned through illicit activities. Furthermore, there is a large terrorist presence just over the border in northern canada goose stockists uk Afghanistan. State Department Travel Advisory Level4: “Do not travel.”) canada goose clearance

canadian goose jacket He and other experts think that the attack was most canada goose outlet store uk likely carried out by grass roots Islamic State canada goose outlet 80 off sympathizers, canada goose factory outlet vancouver and they say that by pointing a finger at the Islamic Renaissance Party, the Tajik government is trying to play canada goose outlet in new york down the Islamic State threat and is seizing an opportunity to crack down on opposition groups. None of canada goose outlet locations in toronto the experts said they thought the couple should not have been in Tajikistan or that the attack means Americans should now avoid the country. canadian goose jacket

“I would have no problem telling close friends to go to Central Asia,” Stronski said.

[Can an American tourist in London keep calm and carry on in the wake of terrorist attacks?]

Scott Stewart, a vice president for tactical analysis with Stratfor, a geopolitical intelligence firm, said that before canada goose outlet in canada the https://www.canadagoose-jackets-online.com attack, his company had ranked Tajikistan as medium for a terrorism threat, “and, quite frankly, the attack hasn’t changed that.”

Canada Goose online Stewart noted that a similar attack occurred last year in Manhattan, when a terrorist in a rented truck struck nearly two dozen bicyclists and pedestrians near a bike path. Eight people were killed. “These sort of canada goose outlet trillium parka black attacks can happen across the globe,” he said. “There canada goose outlet online store have always been dangers in the world, and you can’t just not go everywhere where you might be attacked, or you wouldn’t go anywhere.” Canada Goose online

Canada Goose sale Still, “that doesn’t mean that you should ignore the threat of terrorism,” Stewart added. canada goose outlet vancouver “You need to be careful, you need to do your research before you go.” In addition to consulting the State Department’s website, Stewart recommended that tourists cross reference travel advisories from other nations, such as Britain, Australia and Canada, to see canada goose outlet ontario whether assessments mesh and gather more data. Another resource is the Overseas Security Advisory Council, a public private partnership that monitors terrorism. Canada Goose sale

canada goose store Seth Jones, director of the Transnational canada goose outlet store toronto Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said canada goose outlet store calgary that travelers interested in researching recent terrorist attacks also might want to consult the Global Terrorism Database, a project of the University of Maryland’s National canada goose outlet england Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. “It’s canada goose outlet in usa a good place canada goose outlet florida to look at in terms of recent history of attacks,” he said. canada goose store

canada goose coats The threat in Tajikistan isn’t zero, canada goose outlet uk sale he said, “but I would not put it at anywhere near the levels we see” in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. canada goose coats

canada goose “Central Asia, including Tajikistan is beautiful,” he said. “If tourists want to go there, or anywhere else in Central Asia, I think it’s official canada goose outlet worth visiting as long as you’re cautious about where you go.. and keep a relatively low profile.” canada goose

canada goose coats on sale Redspokes Adventure Tours is continuing its program in Tajikistan despite the July 29 attack, owner Dermot MacWard says. (Redspokes Adventure Tours) canada goose coats on sale

buy canada goose jacket Dermot MacWard, the owner of Britain based Redspokes Adventure Tours, which has been running bicycle tours along the Pamir Highway since 2008, said canada goose outlet new york city the company decided not to suspend its Tajik rides after he consulted with his partners there and with canada goose outlet the British Consulate in the country’s capital, Dushanbe. buy canada goose jacket

cheap Canada Goose “As there has been an increase in security checks along the road from Dushanbe to Khorog and the Pamir region is generally considered safe we were reassured that it was safe to continue with canada goose outlet ottawa the tour,” he wrote in an email. “In our group of 18, two people decided to withdraw following 29 July, the other 16 remained keen to continue with the trip.” cheap Canada Goose

canada goose black friday sale MacWard, whose company also operates in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and other countries, encourages his clients to buy travel and cancellation insurance and to check weather and their governments’ travel alerts. His guidance for cyclists on the road in Central Asia includes dressing appropriately for cultural sensitivities, learning a few words in the local language, carrying photos of home and family members to share with hosts, maintaining respect for the environment, making eye contact and smiling, and not raising their voices. “If someone smiles, say hello in the local language and look for every opportunity to interact with the locals,” he said. “These interactions are what make for a memorable trip and canada goose outlet legit linger long after you’ve returned home.” canada goose black friday sale.