in International Situations 407 Words

How Interesting Can Turkey Get?

Since the coup attempt in Turkey last month the country has gone batcrap crazy….I wrote an op-ed for my friends at Ace News Room on the subject….

By now everyone has heard about the recent coup attempt in Turkey….even those that have their ears glued to the telly for the political circus we Americans call “the conventions”………

Source: The Coup In Turkey | Ace News Room

But since I wrote that piece so much more has gone on…..Erdogan is blaming the West for all his problems…..

Turkey has accused the West of supporting terrorism and backing the failed coup to overthrow the government.

In a fiery speech delivered at his 1,150 room palace in Ankara on Tuesday (2 August), president Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded the United States hand over his bitter foe Fethullah Gulen.

Gulen, a 75-year old cleric who has lived in Pennsylvania since 1991, has been accused of masterminding the 15 July coup. He denies any involvement.

“This coup attempt has actors inside Turkey, but its script was written outside. Unfortunately the West is supporting terrorism and stands by coup plotters,” said Erdogan.

Source: Erdogan: West Supports Terrorism, Backed Coup Plotters | World Affairs Journal

This is the typical reaction of a despot….a reaction that could put the relationship between Turkey and The West in jeopardy…..

Turkey’s President Erdogan said on Tuesday that the script for the attempted coup on July 15 was “authored abroad” and that the West is supporting terrorism, explicitly calling into question Ankara’s relations to Washington.

Source: Concerns that NATO Could Lose Turkey Increase | World Affairs Journal

Let’s say Turkey dumps it’s relationship where will he return for back-up?

Russia appears to be the main beneficiary of the July 15 attempted coup in Turkey. Moscow clearly sees a strategic opportunity for itself given the sharp increase in anti-American and anti-European sentiments in Turkey, which are being fanned by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan supporters, and many Turks opposed to Erdogan, are convinced of a US finger in the attempt to topple Erdogan. The fact that Fethullah Gulen — the Islamic cleric accused of masterminding the coup — resides freely in Pennsylvania, and the belief that the United States is dragging its feet over Ankara’s demand for Gulen’s extradition, has raised anti-American feelings among Turks to a fever pitch.
Yet another problem for the next president to sort out…..Who will win the Turkish Lotto?

 

18 thoughts on “How Interesting Can Turkey Get?”

  1. From a despots perspective, better to blame foreigners than admit there is domestic discontent in your country. What’s odd is that he blames the U.S, instead of Russia. The U.S supported his attempted overthrow of the Syrian government, Russia opposed it. Maybe Erdogan is rethinking who he should befriend and discard.

    Reply

      1. Of course, goes without saying. But setting up for years that Russia is your enemy, then switching to say it’s actually the U.S, seems to fly in the face of any logical political calculation for himself. It may be classic strongman theory, he sees Russia as more regionally involved and less critical of how he handles his domestic affairs.

      2. That would be an excellent observation…I want to know why he has the air base on lock down….

      3. From what I’ve read he’s very paranoid about commanders in Southern Turkey, the ones fighting the Kurds and on the border of Syria. Since he’s hosting Incirlik in the south, maybe he thinks there’s collusion? Or there was an end-run around him in military relations. That’s speculative though, based on my own observations.

      4. He has always been paranoid about the Kurds….and now with Syrians over the border he seems afraid that there would be some collusion….he has arrested so many people 1500 at last count…I do not think they could get that many Turks to agree to anything much less a coup

  2. There is more to it than meets the eye….as always.
    Lets see how NewsBud fares….
    Remember Sibel Edmunds lived in Turkey for many years.
    We shall see….

    Reply

      1. Maybe….or just maybe will not conform to USA policy….or The E.U. or NATO or anyone but Himself .A dangerous game he is playing. Due to be assassinated soon,perhaps,depending on the way the chess pieces move…

      6. Oops,wrong place…I am sure Saudi will help & their allies… 🙂

  4. Oh, you are most welcome.
    Glad you have a daughter that is on the ball.
    My son still thinks my Advocacy, Activism and Humanitarianism is completely ridiculous.
    Hi is only 25. My hope is that one day he will follow in my footsteps.
    For now, I am treading lightly on that expectation.

    Reply

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