War tourists watch Kobani fall to Islamic State

[KamaAina]

http://blog.sfgate.com/hottopics/2014/10/08/war-tourists-watch-kobani-fall-to-islamic-state/

The images war photographers are capturing in the besieged Syrian city of Kobani are heart-wrenching. Bombed-out buildings. Raging street fights. Wounded soldiers. Refugees fleeing their home, carrying their possessions on their backs and walking alongside tired, hungry children.

This bloody, burning city has been under fire for weeks as Islamic State (IS) fighters have barreled through its streets, killing thousands of Kurds. U.S. air strikes have tried to stop the IS takeover but the extremist group has persevered and hung their black flags to claim a new territory.

Among the photos of violence and heartache, you’ll also find puzzling images of “war tourists” watching the horrific spectacle from the sidelines.

Less than a mile away in Turkey, men sporting T-shirts and jeans stand on the sidelines snapping photos of the war spectacle with smart phones. They’re not smiling but they look remarkably relaxed as explosions spew over the embattled city in the distance. In one photo that’s going viral, men pose in front of smoke plumes rising above the wreckage as their friends capture the moment on camera — as if they were standing at the Grand Canyon.

[CJCRANE]

1. Kerry said Kobani is not important

strategically.

I wonder what the Kurds feel about that.

[sharp_stick]

2. The same shit was happening

during the recent violence in Gaza. People sitting in lawn chairs watching rockets fly in and out.

As a species we're pretty much fucked up.

[Lurks Often]

3. Certainly not the first time people have gone to watch a battle

It happened during the American Civil War in some of the earlier battles. They'd pack themselves a lunch, get into their horse drawn carriages and go and watch.

Do a search on war spectators