Four recent suicide bombings in Istanbul, two at synagogues and two at British institutions, have raised fears that Turkey has become a new “front” in the worldwide conflict between Islamic terrorists and the West. Previously Turkey had been a remarkably friendly place for travelers and in many ways this may not change, but the attacks suggest that simmering tensions are overheating. It remains uncertain whether the attacks were a homegrown blow against Turkey’s political leanings toward the West or a strike at Western influence on a global scale. The U.S. State Department warns against nonessential travel to Turkey, and the British Foreign Office advises against all but the most essential travel to Istanbul and other major cities. Americans may wish to defer travel to Turkey until more is known about the attacks.
