Possible Coup Underway In Turkey

[mrjarrell]

In a long overdue move, it looks like Turkey's military may be making moves to oust Erdogan and his Islamist buddies from power and return the country to secular rule, ( as they've done in the past). While not a fan of military coups, by and large, Turkey's have always been about restoring democracy and preserving their Constitution and secular rule. Easy enough to get behind.

Turkey PM says army group engaged in 'coup attempt' -

 

[mrjarrell]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/jul/15/turkey-coup-attempt-military-gunfire-ankara

Running updates

 

[ArcadiaGP]

Military has issued a statement that they have control of the country

Reports that top generals are currently "held hostage" at military HQ

For those that don't follow Turkey closely... we're rooting for the military. Turkey is no stranger to coups.

If the coup holds... the stream of refugees from Syria should stop, which may also cause issues for ISIS

 

[KellyinAvon]

I'm not generally (no pun intended) a fan of military-coups, but this guy has been trying to turn a successful NATO country into an islamist ****hole since he got into office in 2007. I was good with the Egyptian military kicking out the muslim brotherhood too. Other than that, not a fan.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Trukexit?

I hoping that the Christians in Action were behind this. They need to enhance their resume lately.

 

[BugI02]

Thanks for the heads up MrJ. If true/successful would be good news

 

[KellyinAvon]

Middle East be blowin up!! That is all.

 

[Kutnupe14]

It still amazes me that coups happen in relatively advanced nations.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

It still amazes me that coups happen in relatively advanced nations.

Coups happen in almost every single nation in history. What's so amazing?

 

[BugI02]

I'm not generally (no pun intended) a fan of military-coups, but this guy has been trying to turn a successful NATO country into an islamist ****hole since he got into office in 2007. I was good with the Egyptian military kicking out the muslim brotherhood too. Other than that, not a fan.

Yep. He seemed to be going for a full Putin. Add powers to the presidency so you can move there for four years until eligible to be PM again, or just leverage presidency into autocracy

Say goodnight, Reccip

 

[Expat]

I was afraid they would be unable to do this when the time comes since Erdogan had been trying to put his people in top slots in the military.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

Well you know what Erdogan says... "You're either with us or against us."

I guess they were against him.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Look at all those beautiful Gay Drys. Going to clean mine this weekend.

 

[mrjarrell]

I'm not generally (no pun intended) a fan of military-coups, but this guy has been trying to turn a successful NATO country into an islamist ****hole since he got into office in 2007. I was good with the Egyptian military kicking out the muslim brotherhood too. Other than that, not a fan.

He has also refused to take the fight to IS along the border and has done squat to seal the border with Syria. I'd bet the military is pissed at that. He's also done nothing internally against IS, instead reigniting the conflict with the Kurds.

 

[jbombelli]

Middle East be blowin up!! That is all.

Turkey isn't Middle East. It's Persian. A distinction lost on many, but it's an important one.

 

[mrjarrell]

Competing claims going on. Government spokesdrone says they're still in control. Military says they are. Looks like helicopters have been firing on the National Intelligence Organisation building.

https://news.vice.com/article/turkey-military-coup-attempt-istanbul-ankara

 

[Alamo]

Turkey isn't Middle East. It's Persian. A distinction lost on many, but it's an important one.

Persia and Turkey are certainly Middle East (now), but they are not Arabic. The Arabs get all cranked off whenever we refer to the Persian Gulf -- it's the Arabian Gulf, dontcha see, but it's still the same body of water and also in the middle east.

Anyway, this is hopeful news, I was sure that Erdogan had castrated the military early on.

 

[Kutnupe14]

Coups happen in almost every single nation in history. What's so amazing?

Keywords: "relatively advanced"
In Banana Republics it comes as no big surprise

 

[jbombelli]

Persia and Turkey are certainly Middle East (now), but they are not Arabic. The Arabs get all cranked off whenever we refer to the Persian Gulf -- it's the Arabian Gulf, dontcha see, but it's still the same body of water and also in the middle east.

Anyway, this is hopeful news, I was sure that Erdogan had castrated the military early on.

No. They aren't. Turkey is not the Middle East. The term "Middle East" applies to a very specific region, and neither Turkey nor Iran are countries therein. They are Persian.

 

[Alamo]

p.s.

I'd love to be in NATO headquarters right now seeing everyone run about, as well as in the EU headquarters. No doubt the EU will be pulling for the Islamists, NATO will officially sit on its hands and call for calm, but if they have half-a-brain they will be rooting for the military to succeed. I'm sure they will do nothing useful. Aside from the American bases the US has, there is a NATO forward operating base for NATO AWACS, I wonder if any are deployed, and if they skedaddled.

I shudder to think what our current SecState and President Jarrett are going to come up with.