Why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks

Here we go again:

A suicide attack at Istanbul's busy Ataturk Airport Tuesday killed dozens and wounded more than 140 as Turkish officials blamed the carnage at the international terminal on three suspected Islamic State group militants.

Hundreds of frightened passengers streamed out of the airport, fleeing the latest of several bombings to strike Turkey in recent months. The attacks have increased in scale and frequency, scaring off tourists and hurting the Turkish economy, which relies heavily on tourism.

Yeah, I suppose it won't help the tourism much.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said 41 were dead as well as the three suicide bombers. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said 147 were wounded. Another senior government official told The Associated Press the death toll could climb much higher.

Yildirim said three suicide bombers were responsible for the attack and all initial indications suggest the Islamic State group was behind it.

"The findings of our security forces point at the Daesh organization as the perpetrators of this terror attack," Yildirim told reporters at the airport, using the Arabic name for IS. "Even though the indications suggest Daesh, our investigations are continuing." 

Turkey's problems go beyond terrorist attacks -- just the basic geography of the place puts it between the Europe and the Middle East and there's more historical baggage in Istanbul than just about anywhere else. And because of that history, and the dangers involved, officials there can't try to invent alternative meanings to events, as our governmental officials are wont to do. You can't say this attack is a hate crime against gays, or the result of a video no one has seen. Somehow, I suspect we'll continue to enjoy our illusions here, until we can't.