I wish viewing of the documentary to be included in the subscription we pay each month. Hope, one day it's available.
As for the cyclists killed by the ISIS sympathizers, we should only pray for them and their innocent souls. We salute their large hearts for the universe. They took the entire world as having been tied in a knot of love and brotherhood where each one has respect for the other.
Unfortunately, however, there are many dangerous corners, alleys and sub-alleys around the world and scores of people with evil intentions and violent methodologies.
The cyclists in this case were killed by an Islamist anti-American outfit which claimed, boasted and exhibited their deeds. The Islamists would justify killings of any person -- tourist, sportspeople, patient, doctor, military or civilian -- who looked White confusing them as Americans (for this reason, many American backpackers abroad, first introduce themselves as Canadians, you know!). And with every such killing, there will be a number of Americans who would start re-telling the story why 'they' hated or killed them.
At the end of the debate, the reality is the world consists of people who are downright evil and people with a philanthropist, good Samaritan's heart. The evils will go after the decent people regardless of the precaution or defensive measures taken.
The civilized world will have to figure out how to make the world secured for people like these young cyclists. One way is to destroy the evil at its source.
2
Don’t get how to watch videos. Stuck watching commercials & teaser.
How many years ago did I read the story in National Geographics about the guy hiking around the world who was beaten to death in Afghanistan. Maybe 20. Pre ISIS. Pre terrorism. Making weapons out of tin cans. Don't go there.
1
Having spent my whole life (going on 74) learning through observation of the world's many different cultures; living among, with, through their efforts and hospitality, I have learned that all hearts and minds are open to love, compassion and goodwill. The only sure antidote to the ignorance, hate and fear of damaged souls is to simply reach out... The animal kingdom teaches us that even though they too at times pay a dear price for their naïve trust...as do we.
Inch'allah.
9
@jean francois dermott at 74 for your heart and mind to still believe in peoples innate ability to be open to love says a lot about you<3 ......there will always be predators in nature but maybe at some point we can rid ourselves of human predator's and prison/wars don't seem to really help....maybe the Beatle's did have it right ..all we need is love ...well done sir well done
6
To those who think the US can withdraw from Afghanistan and the war on terror or that Israel can ever trade land for Peace, or that Iran will ever stop exporting weapons, terrors, revolution and violence, let this serve as the sounding of the tocsin, When Democratic candidates for POTUS and others argue the World will leave the USA alone if we just quit and run along home, ask yourselves what wars we were fighting on December 7, 1941 or September 11, 2001. You can fight these murderous thugs in our homeland or theirs, but one thing is sure, they have no intention of stopping their attacks on the USA and its allies. Surrender and withdrawal from the War on Terrors will simply serve to consign many more innocent people to death. If the USA will not stand and fight terror, than who do you suppose will spoil their attacks and keep them from committing another mass casualty attack on civilians. It is no accident that the USA has not been hit since 9-11, yet the Democratic candidates act as if we can simply quit the war and go home and all will be well. I don't know who scares me more, Trump of the delusional nitwits running for Democratic Party nomination.
4
@American Akita Team
Terrorism is a methodology, not an imperial state. The US calls it "shock and awe" when it uses it. A war against terrorism using military force creates a self-perpetuating war. The US has had a number of attacks inspired by all of this violence, in Boston, NY, San Bernardino and other places. Your sentiments are precisely what OBL wished to generate in the US public. Fear focused on an enemy that could be anywhere. If you discard that mindset, nothing will change for the worse, because terrorism requires generalized fear.
14
We have not had a major attack since 9-11 because the FBI, CIA and other intelligence agencies actually communicate with each other.
2
Circling the world on a bicycle is a singular experience and he is right, one should do it when you have the strength and craziness to do it. You don't abandon life when you experience it in such a way. You may fall behind or even fail at your previous track, but you gain in ways that cannot be described. It grows you, and heals you, and strengthens you. Part of that experience is the day to day understanding that risk is a reality, but fear is not the way to respond to it. I mourn these four as my riding companions, though I never met them. I hope their families will allow the memories of the love they shared to help them through the pain of their loss.
7
I wasn't aware that the New York Times was now in the business of running elaborate teasers for television programs that are available only to a select few subscribers of niche "streaming services". (Is that the term for Pay-TV channels nowadays? I'm a little out of the most recent mass-entertainment loop.)
Are these streaming services (FX, Hulu) New York Times business partners? Perhaps the relationship between the NYT and said channels could be briefly summarized for the enlightenment of the handful of us NYT subscribers who were unaware of the scope of the NYT family of entertainment providers.
22
@Nick Very valid questions, thank you..
He killed them because he couldn't understand why Americans were interfering in countries outside North America.
7
@Egon12
In all fairness, it's pretty insulting to say the guy is so deranged that he would murder innocent people just because he can't understand something.
2
Seems a bit harsh that there isn’t a way to watch this unless you live in the USA? I’m here at the moment but am denied the ability to watch because my payment details are based overseas. Is there any way round this at all? You have a lot of international readers..
12
@Owen
Even IN the USA it cannot be watched, unless one has a paid subscription to Hulu.
Not a good move, NYT!
1
actually watched it on FX channel
@Owen Found a complicated way to watch it and it was worth it, shame it took such a fix. Amazing journalism as always from Rukmini, tragic that people with such a good life philosophy should of been so, so unlucky in what is an amazing, hospitable country. And all the comments about their naivety for travelling to Tajikistan are so misguided, London ,Paris, Nice..etc etc have proved a lot more unsafe, you can't stay indoors your whole life...
3
Looking through these comments, and all the people who are shocked that these bikers would go to Central Asia, no matter how low the risk had been, something occurs me. If this had been an article about diet and heart-health, the comments would be filled with such reactions as, "So what, something's going to kill you anyway," "You only live once, so why not enjoy your time."
So don't worry about some unlikely cause of death like heart disease, worry about terrorists! Especially in a place that has had millions of tourists in the past decade and seen four killed in one attack. Just stay home and eat funnel cake all day.
15
Mmmmm ... funnel cake!
2
I really appreciated this episode as this tragedy has touched me deeply. RIP Jay & Lauren
9
I watched this entire show. It was well done but not that shocking if one pays attention to what happens outside of western democracies and inside largely Muslim countries to traveling Americans, Europeans and even Muslims inside their own country.
I commented earlier and raised the question about wondering how much research these cyclists had done?
One commenter basically said that the US State Department was a go to solution.
Nonsense.
I rely on far more research than the US State Department's warnings about a given country. For the record at the time of the attacks the USSD said that France was more dangerous for Americans than Tajikistan.
I am not saying that these atrocities could've been avoided with more research. These innocent people were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But the naivete of some westerners still concerns me.
8
@Futbolistaviva You are absolutely correct when you say that these people were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing more, nothing less. They had a greater chance of being involved in a terrorist attack in their own country. From Jay's Mom.
3
@Jea You have literally no proof of your statements at the time of writing this. These people want to kill because they are demented and evil to the point they think killing people is right, and that in itself is evil. But Evil doesn't make one irredeemable.
There is a lot to be commended in this couple's desire to do something completely different. Unfortunately, they were a bit naive, and they chose to do it in a rather dangerous part of the world. We will never know if they thought their naivete would carry the day.
Our culture has a need to create heroes and villains and create icons that are perfectly good or perfectly evil. Obviously, the group that killed the cyclists was motivated by hate, but the victims made a very ill-considered choice to take the route they did. I'm not saying that they were not lovely young people, but they took some colossal risks and did not survive them. The risks they took should be acknowledged as part of the story. That would not diminish their idealism.
6
@Judith There may be some truth to your statements but I'll disagree. Not only was this the first terrorist attack in Tajikistan, with threat levels greater in their own country as well as other civilized countries that tourists visit on a regular basis, but they were traveling on a road that is a well-known tourist attraction. Many have traveled this road before them and many since .. and they're all still alive. Naivete doesn't play a role here.
3
@Jea And how does Naivete not play a role here? They are literally going to a place infamous for having infamous people (ISIS & muslim terrorists) involved in doing something infamous (Killing 2001, 2,977 people)
1
Is there a way to watch this series for us subscribers who don’t have television service and live in Canada?
11
Thanks to the journalist for very good work.
To those who commented about safety in Tajikistan: The terrorist himself said that ISIS's first choice was Belgium, but that the false documents did not come through in time. Tajikistan was ISIS's second choice, and one which has not been repeated in the intervening year in the former Soviet Union part of Central Asia. I bet ISIS will continue to look elsewhere for terrorist actions.
I lived in Central Asia for a time. In my view, the police there are corrupt, in terms of traffic stop bribes or narcotics trafficking (which they view as hurting only Russians, the former hated colonial power), but they are fiercely efficient in terms of fighting traditional crime and terrorism. Public sentiment backs them up. Witness the unarmed elderly villagers who chased the young men armed with knives until the police came to arrest them.
9
No matter where you live or travel, if you seem vulnerable and alone, people looking to take advantage will see an opportunity. Traveling alone as these people were doing, placed them at risk. That it ended badly was probably unlikely in terms of the number of people who travel alone but it was a real danger, anyway.
I see people, not children, who take real risks everyday about which I think that they are not unaware. But they simply presume that nothing bad will happen. Why they misjudge the risks is anyone’s guess but they do it. This kind of misfortune has happened to travelers throughout history, and it will happen, again.
5
@Casual Observer They were not traveling alone. There were 5 of them traveling together. The very definition of not traveling alone.
8
How do you decide who is misjudging risk? People can be as aware as you of the actual probability of a bad outcome but still choose to take it. Most of us are i her empty irrational in calculating the actual odds and we have different tolerance levels for the same perceived odds. Every day we get in cars or cross roads and take risks that are worth it. To suggest people are ignorant of the risk simply because you would make a different decision or take a different action is not valid.
11
So what’s a safe number of people to travel with? You can’t always travel in group tours,surely?
4
Go biking in a remote country with an ISIS presence? Seriously?
7
@Tish Tash, you should read the original article in NYT about the couple and their trip. It was published in August of 2018. It will provide you with a better understanding.
7
@Tish Tash So you wouldn't go biking in France?
6
@Robert W. Thank you vas and Robert W. for attempting to educate the ignorant! From Jay's Mom
1
Why are we spending such an inordinate amount of time and ink documenting sadistic lunatics?
3
Without trying to diminish one iota this tragedy, you must stop and think what madness possessed this couple to take a bike ride right through the middle of ISIS hangouts. Why in the the world couldn't they just skip the entire region and just ride somewhere else safer? And then having worked at a "desk job" in Washington and then ride a bike through war territory kind of doesn't help either.
Would you ride a motorcycle at 100 MPH on a busy highway and then blame the truck you smashed against? I mean come on guys, if you are an American and feel like taking a leisure walk in the middle of ISIS territory and you are say a teacher for deaf kids, someone please should tell you that you perfectly fit the profile of a CIA agent!
9
@King David The Central Asian countries of the former Soviet Union (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) are not ISIS territory. Police there are effective against ordinary crime and terrorism (although they do take bribes related to traffic stops and narcotics smuggling.) This horrid multiple murder happened one year ago and has not been repeated. Uzbekistan hosts millions of Westerners visiting silk road cities (Khiva, Bukhara, Samarakand, Tashkent) annually.
14
This area is sparsely populated. It’s where the Soviets tested nuclear weapons and space rockets.
1
@Anne Thank you Anne! It's reassuring to know that some people have brains. From Jay's Mom.
1
Although it is a cliché; to understand one's enemy is to defeat them. Sadly, that enemy is all to often ourselves. Finding humanity in the story is crucial. Thank-you for sharing.
2
I always wonder why Americans feel the entire world belongs to them? I clearly remembered when a pastor that was at some point associated to President Obama. He said that “chickens had come home to roost” in America, that the violence it begat globally could not any longer be contained out there but was manifesting inside the borders as well. From HuffPost. The United States of America have clearly seed violence around the world. That is a fact nobody can denied. The Country that in the 50’ 60’ even 70’ used to send “Christian missionaries” to the so called third world countries, simply to disseminate American culture and dominance. One has to live outside the United States of America to have experienced the terror and control that the United States of America has imposed in countless countries. In the United States of America regular/ordinary people are unable to understand perhaps to believe the atrocities that the USA’s government has committed and continues, regardless who is the President.
10
Empirical risks, like those in construction or riding bikes next to motor vehicles or traveling alone in lawless regions are based upon real outcomes. If the chances of a bad outcome are ten percent that means ten people in every hundred have suffered. If you do the same thirty times, you will suffer bad outcomes thrice. Being optimistic or pessimistic has nothing to do with it.
1
I listened to a man who went on a formal tour of China back in the seventies. He was with a group of older people. They were disappointed because they expected an exotic experience but it was just people going about their lives. His point was that their experiences in life had not really left them open to the new. Young people have a different problem, they do not see a lot of things that are right before their eyes because it is too new to them. They don’t see potential dangers nor opportunities and don’t know how to find out about them. Things can happen to them that more experienced and thoughtful people are more likely to avoid.
Life is what it is and people must never assume that unknown risks are not going to be unacceptable ones.
@Casual Observer Looking at a region that receives around 8 million tourists a year and sees two killed, then concluding that it is incredibly dangerous does not sound like the thought process of a thoughtful person.
10
Well, the killer presents the face of an enemy we cannot pretend does not exist. Nor we can we ignore his motivation.
But, it was incredibly foolhardy for these four Westerners to bicycle across Tajikistan. I mean, it is not Iowa.
If you want a long bicycle journey- try Canada.
@Lefthalfbach He already did.
2
@Jea They meant to avoid terrorist territory and stupidly try and prove that evil and hate doesn't exist in the world.
The ISIS psychopaths get off on this sort of publicity. I am of the firm belief that downplaying the names and details of these perpetrators (whether Islamic or here in the US) is of utmost importance.
It is clear that these sick, amoral individuals are motivated by a desire for attention and recognition.
Let's not give it to them.
9
Thank you for your reporting and show. I pray for reporters’ mental health daily knowing that mine is not so hot in these awful times. Call out with fact checking all these lies right away. Will we ever get thru to the other side? Please solve the problem of Language translation on the bottom of the screen. So often the words fade into the background and thus cant be read !!!! Maybe put words in black box. This is so frustrating and discouraging re following the show. Thank you all.
5
Trump claims we defeated ISIS. Not so. As many predicted, they've just gone underground to continue its terror tactics. Who knows how many other murders and crimes are due to them?
2
Trump says means nothing. The man never bothers to worry whether what he says is accurate or not. ISIS recruited people inclined to harm others. Those kinds of people have always existed.
5
What a tragic and heartbreaking story. The contrast between the idealism of the victims and the matter-of-fact brutality of the convicted murderer was stark and painful to see, But it was also touching to see the kindness of the Tajik man at the end who sheltered them on their last night; clearly there is truth in what the bikers stood for even if there is also cruelty and chaos.
9
Naive hope for the best is what these innocents represented.
2
@Kristin Dittmann That's what I took away from it too. What broke my heart was validating how polite my son was .. in what can be a cruel world, giving Navarkhon a hand-written thank you note for allowing the group to spend the night on his land .. and mentioning in the note how he has loved Tajikistan. My son told Navarkhon that he'd come back to visit some day when his apricots were ripe. After the orchard owner learned of the deaths, he planted a tree in their honor on his land. There are so many good-hearted people in this vast land but we wouldn't know it until we get out there to meet them all. From Jay's Mom.
3
1. If you want to understand why anyone does anything or believes what they do you must first put away your ego. Then you must away your bias and let those I'm better than her, him, or they chips slide off your shoulders and into a waste basket.
2. I don't subscribe to Hulu and I don't watch FX. But I accessed this particular episode and made it available to myself for streaming and watching at home later this evening. This is 2019 at least make an attempt be resourceful before you start complaining.
3
How did you make the episode accesible ?
3
Can you please supply a print transcript of these videos.
frankly, I do not want to watch them but I would like to know what they say.. and It's more time efficient for me to read.
36
A lack of sympathy for these victims on the basis of a fool hardy journey to a dangerous country seems ill informed. My understanding is the intentional homicide rate in the USA is significantly higher than where this incident happened.
21
You can't compare the two countries. Most of the people in Tajikistan live in rural, isolated areas and there is a culture of silence. There is no reason to think statistics are even remotely accurate. BTW, the last murder rate I see for it (I looked it up after reading your comment) is from over a decade ago.
But, even if we could compare the two< don't understand the point of your comment. It seems analogous to suggesting that if we have a high murder rate we shouldn't worry about serial killers. ISIS is a terrorist movement that has killed many people - According to online sources, outside of Syria and Iraq, where it killed who knows how many of thousands or hundreds of thousands, it is responsible for over 1200 international murders, often gruesome and videotaped to be made available to watch. What are you suggesting? - B/c the U.S. has a murder problem (mostly in certain neighborhoods) that we shouldn't be concerned with ISIS killing innocent American travelers riding their bikes? We can look to our problems and continue to try to wipe out ISIS too. We don't want to go back to treating them like the JV team, even if we have mostly defeated them. It didn't work well.
8
Travel in strange places is perilous. When you live in a place, you know what is safe and what is not. You stay where it’s safe. You know where to find help. But when you are a stranger you don’t know such things.
Throughout human history travel has rarely been safe. It takes a great deal of effort to make travel safe. Until Genghis Khan conquered many places, a virgin could not safe go out at night. In the ancient villages of New Guinea, strangers were highly likely to be people looking for trouble so they were routinely killed. It took a colonial power to enable people to travel far and to trust strangers.
Never take travel in strange places to be the same as in familiar places.
My understanding is the intentional homicide rate in the USA is significantly higher in the USA then where these cyclists were murdered.
Why are we so fearful of places and people we don’t even know?
10
How many people have been killed in the history of man, for religious reasons, MILLIONS !! Have we learned absolutely nothing from our past ?
21
@Lowcountry Joe
I've learned that humanity never hurts so completely and happily as when it is done for religious and ideological reasons.
27
@Lowcountry Joe That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach.
Aldous Huxley
This series, from the trailers looks powerful.
Can it be made available on the NYT website, for subscribers who don't have Hulu or FX?
81
Well done story tell, atragedy in every sense of the word.
4
Such a heartbreaking story and at the same time an interesting look into the mindset of terrorist groups like ISIS. My deepest condolences go out to the victims families. Thank you for doing this series and I’m an even bigger fan of the NYT now.
10
@Dan Shedd Thank you Dan for your condolences. From Jay's Mom
Heartbreaking. Could be anybody’s Fathers and mothers sisters and brothers are forever impacted by the violent deaths. As we should all be... just heartbreaking.
4
They killed these innocent people because they are psychopaths.
There are people out there whose mental illness compels them to kill. They are never going to admit that they kill because they are psychopaths. No, instead they will wrap their murderous tendencies around some argument that they deem logical whereby, at the heart of the matter, they think that they are doing this for god.
42
I read the coverage when this happened, and I was saddened. Everybody who goes outside their comfort zone is taking risks. The lack of empathy in responses here is terrible and speaks of our time.
39
@Cynthia Boland ... lack of empathy .. thank you for saying so Cynthia. I agree. From Jay's Broken-Hearted Mom
1
@Jea oh my goodness, I am so sorry, I wasn't aware you were THAT Jay's mom. I am so sorry for your loss.
I think it is horrible what happened to these people.
Having said that I am an avid cyclist and I have traveled all over the world for decades.
There are certain countries that I would not even consider cycling in. And Tajikistan is one of them.
I wonder how much research these people did?
21
@Futbolistaviva If their research included checking the US State Department warnings, then at the time it was either at the lowest level for Tajikistan (‘Exercise Normal Precuations’) or its current Level 2 (‘Exercise Increased Caution’).
9
@Nick Yes Nick, their research included checking the US State Department's warnings and yes, on that dreadful day, it was at the lowest level. From Jay's Mom
3
@Jea Nonetheless, evil exists, Karen. A Navy SEAL sat on a rooftop with a sniper rifle and shot a young girl and old man for fun. Isn't that evil?
This story explains why it's hard to get terribly upset, when a Navy Seal gives an Isis fighter, exactly what any Isis fighter deserves.
Members of groups who do not abide by the third Geneva Convention (which is concerned with the treatment of prisoners of war) deserve no consideration when they are taken prisoner.
Extreme and heartless violence, never resides on a one way street - it's all too easy, for armchair commenters to issue scathing critiques of those who are operating in a combat zone.
What goes around, comes around.
13
My mother always said “two wrongs don’t make a right”.
The Navy Seal on trial for killing a prisoner is, most likely, a psychopath. He is certainly not an honorable soldier.
Maybe, if I caught someone in the act of brutalizing another, I’d want to brutalize them in return. It doesn’t make it right.
7
@Peter Zenger
That Navy Seal also allegedly sat on a rooftop with a sniper rifle and shot a young girl and old man for sport. And it sounds like this wasn’t unusual behavior for him.
Combat zone or not, a psychopath is a psychopath.
6
I found the trailer for this worryingly like a teaser for the next Netflix horror/thriller. Very off-putting and not what I expect from NYT. (Living in France, I'm not sure I can access the video, but frankly, after this trailer, I don't want to.)
17
Appalling end to two young people’s lives. We live in a very safe time in a very safe country, and it can produce people who have no grasp of how much violence people have committed upon other people with no warnings. I hope others will learn from this tragedy and take pains to understand where they are going and the risks to that they might find.
Wherever one travels, when one is alone in isolated places, one is at higher risk of dangers situations. Just hiking alone can become dangerous if one breaks a leg. One needs a plan to handle unwelcome situations.
11
@Casual Observer Well, let's see. Six-and-a-half MILLION western tourists to Uzbeksitan in 2018, and a quarter million to Tajikistan. One couple killed. How does that compare to, say, France?
9
I wish I could view the film in Germany. Is there any way?
2
A similar attack occurred last year in New York City, 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 attacks can happen across the globe. There 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.
Some people live in fear.
Some people fear to live.
Nobody gets out of here alive.
Best to live each moment as fully as possible. This couple were doing just that.
Nobody is going to remember the comment they typed to a corp. media or what TV show they watched last week.
Go outside folks.
18
True but what if you are maimed by disregarding risks, any reason to feel regret, then? Or is it just fate, in any case?
1
@Casual Observer Well, when you have a place like Central Asia, where around 8 million tourists arrived in 2018 between the 5 states, and one couple are attacked, that doesn't seem like an especially dangerous place. Or you could just look at the two who were killed and focus on that. But don't forget to focus on the tourists who are killed by tourists in Europe, so don't go there.
5
@Casual Observer
Having cycled coast to coast, border to border and parts of Mex. and Canada, the only places I've felt unsafe and in danger were here in America. The three times I've been hit by vehicles all happened close to home on a normal commuting day.
Life happens. Just like death.
I was a construction manager on site. I was considered the most pessimistic optimist, because I'd look at all the dangers, the what if's, plan accordingly and then rally the crew and get the job done.
That's all any of us can do. Or we don't do.
Yes, it is "just fate".
Bad things happen to good people all the time.
It is a sad, small life in my eyes to never challenge ones self and get out and push your own boundaries and experiences.
But some people don't like that.
Cool. That is their choice.
Fate is still going to get them still. It is a question of what and how you decided to live; or not live.
Hope you enjoy your choices. This couple seemed to enjoy theirs.
7
As an active cyclist, I feel bad for this young couple, but choosing to display what could be interpreted as a decadent abundance of discretionary leisure time in a sad backwater is almost looking for trouble. If a local zealot does not appreciate their yesteryear culture being gawked at, then they will lash out, and tag it as righteous event for religious reasons. No thank you. Similarly, I take the long way around the yard of my neighbor’s pit bull.
22
what is the point of articles like these, to terrify the already terrified Americans who never travel outside of their own country?
13
@mons And to be truthful the US is one of the most dangerous countries to be in so there is no place to go thanks to the NRA and others who love guns and not people.
25
So watched trailer. Looks very interesting and went straight to HULU to view it. But it's not yet available. Latest one is S1E3. Which I did watch but why not have the full vid available when the trailer goes out?
4
I admit to not watching the "documentary;" don't know what else to call it. It isn't entertainment.
After reading the short summary, there's only a very few lessons to be learned.
1. Don't travel to countries where terrorists live out their fantasies of killing non-believers.
2. Terrorists need zero context to rationalize their murders in the name of their clerics' interpretation of god's orders. They're just terrorists, same as the nazis, same as the slave holders.
Islamic terrorists are exactly what they appear to be.
35
Tajikistan is not a hotbed of terror as several comments allude to. Central Asia, whilst having predominantly Muslim populations, have always been safe for the few tourists that go there and had no more links to IS than any western state. It was a popular destination for cycle tourists and several reputable tour companies still go there. Please Don’t victim blame. They were just as unlucky as people killed on the London bridge.
24
@Derek
My grandchildren attend public schools. Their risk of being murdered is currently higher than if they were US soldiers.
5
I will avoid this show, for the same reason I will not rubberneck when passing an auto accident. I am very matter of fact about death, and I also feel that to to replay this horror is voyeuristic and potent propaganda. It doesn’t exactly move the ball forward in international relations, does it? I didnt really get the point of the program from the trailer and I see no need to watch it to figure it out.
25
I lived four wonderful years in Tajikistan. I bet riding a bike in Tajikistan is safer than riding a bike in NY.
26
@Mike. You lost your bet. Want to go double or nothing on another issue.
6
@Chilawyer
Did he?
City data shows that 214 people were killed in traffic deaths in New York City in 2017, approx. 2 people are murdered ea. day in NY.
The U.S. travel advisory for Tajikistan on July 29, according to a State Department official, was at Level 1, the lowest, which means Americans traveling in the country should "exercise normal precautions."
I'd bet that Tajikistan has less cycling deaths than NY.
A similar attack occurred last year in New York City, 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 attacks can happen across the globe. There 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.
https://patch.com/new-york/chelsea-ny/cycling-deaths-increased-2017-city-data-shows
22
I've always been amazed at western travelers to the third world and undeveloped nations. I've yet to meet one who speaks the local language, often they don't understand even the currency. Traveling within a bubble. I realize they are trying to get an understanding and create a rapport with the people and the culture, but mostly they fail miserably.
9
@somsai - :) And I am equally amazed at immigrants from third world and undeveloped nations that do not speak the local language. Several families in my building have to rely on their kids to translate even after years in the country.
Most of us struggled to learn the mother tongue much less pick up Icelandic for a 4 day tour of Reykjavik.
6
@somsai
People shouldn't travel anywhere, really, right? Because, as you say, they'll fail miserably, their intentions are corrupt and, most importantly, they'll be letting you down personally.
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I am surprised and deeply dissapointed that multiple posters have no sympathy for young people with a sense of adventure who were cruelly killed by ISIS fanatics. As a life-long backpacker I totally get why this couple decided to do something ambitious and challenging. Frankly, I felt safer crossing the Congo and the Western Sahara on the back of local trucks than I do travelling in the United States, where violence is very common and many, many people are packing guns. No thanks. I sense that these callous posters resent others who crave a break from the daily humdrum and have the gumption to act on it. Besides, travellers are more likely to be attacked by ISIS fanatics in France or the United States than in most developing countries. My heart goes out to that wonderful young couple and thier families.
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@Tom Barrett
It’s common sense not callousness. When an article/ video describes an adventure which was extremely dangerous for all sorts of reasons, it should make potential copycats think twice.
And “daily humdrum” is just whatever routine you are currently living. I bet pedaling a bike months on end can be its own daily humdrum.
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@Tom Barrett I admire their bravery but I think Americans live in senseless bubble and do not clearly understand the danger in these countries. As an immigrant from a country where socialist swept and divided the country into two, I am amazed by the ignorance of this young generation. Two young couple lost their lives sadly. I am not sure if they understood the danger when they picked this trip.
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@Tom Barrett - That makes sense. Then, one should bike across the U.S. for some adventure rather than a terrorist nation.
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Ignorance is no longer bliss but often ends tragically in the brutality of reality...
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Certainly the attack whether done by ISIS or other criminals is bad. Unfortunately I haven’t read any responses by Democrat Presidential candidates proposing a solution. However, for my own personal safety, I don’t plan any trips in areas where I might be a target, including certain Chicago neighborhoods where
two dozen people are often shot on a weekend.
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@Richard Bourne So where is the Republican administration response to this? Are they planning a drone strike in Tajikistan? Sending in troops?........................................ all I hear are crickets chirping. FYI I wont plan on going to Green Bay either, may be harmful to my health.
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Trump has mentioned the high rate of violent crime in Chicago many times. Strangely I have never heard Democrat Presidential candidates mention it. Maybe because Chicago is a Democrat controlled city.
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@Richard Bourne
You believe what Trump says about Chicago? Perhaps because both you and he don't live in Chicago as I do you have no idea as to what you're talking about. None.
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To the Millenials:
The world is a dangerous place. It is not a playground for US citizens. Every action causes a reaction. Please be careful when living your dreams.
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Last summer, during July / August, the same time, we biked the Pamir highway (M41) in the opposite direction. All bicyclists, we met shared their joy of life, excitement, and wonder from their hearts. Most nights, when not camping, we were hosted by a Tajik, Pamiri, or Kyrgyz family, who cooked dinner for us, shared their quarters, and made breakfast. We felt incredibly welcome, safe, and humiliated by the unconditional sharing by our hosts. We are deeply thankful to the people who made our journey so wonderful. We cannot comprehend.
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@Tom This has been my experience traveling in the Islamic world also. Indeed, the people’s warm heartedness and generosity was embarrassing and humbling to me
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@Tom “... in spite of everything I still believe that [most] people are really good at heart.” Anne Frank
It seems you met these type of people, thank God.
I believe that too, however, there are 10-15% of ne’er-do-wells that cannot behave themselves and must make mischief, and/or are simply bad, simply evil.
Life can be an obstacle race, and a person’s choices can come with exceedingly dangerous obstacles. I prefer to be the armchair traveler: I like to watch.
This series looks excellent.
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@Tom, you mean "humbled," not "humiliated."
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Where, from outside USA, can we see this? Why is it not available here for subscribers?
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Apparently, it takes a group of "very brave" ISIS wannabees to attack and stab unarmed cyclists to death.
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