Posted on 08/05/2013 6:13:16 AM PDT by don-o
Turkey's former armed forces chief has been jailed for life for plotting to overthrow the government, after five years of trials involving officers, lawyers, writers and journalists.
Gen Ilker Basbug was among dozens of people convicted of involvement in the so-called Ergenekon plot.
Critics of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have accused him of staging show trials to eliminate his enemies.
His supporters say the trials have pushed the military out of politics.
Verdicts are being read out one by one at a specially constructed courtroom in Istanbul.
Twenty-one people have been acquitted and some 40 convicted so far, including at least one journalist and a police chief.
snip
The case is being seen as a key test in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's showdown with secularist and military opponents.
Since Mr Erdogan came to power in 2002, hundreds of military officers - serving or retired - have been arrested.
Critics say there is little evidence for the charges and accuse the government of trying to silence its secularist opponents.
snip
Turkey's military has long seen itself as the guarantor of the country's secular constitution.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
The purge continues of the secular Kemalist generals who for eight decades kept Turkiye from sliding into Islamist theocracy.
Erdogan wants an Iranian-style Turkish Islamic republic.
Next step - abrogation of peace treaty with Israel.
If Morsi had been in power one more year, he would have purged the Egyptian military the way the Islamists in Turkey destroyed Ataturk’s legacy. The Egyptian generals knew they had to act or they would be out.
If Obama had an uncle, would he look like Ergodan?
I cringe every time I see the picture of our military holding an umbrella over obozo’s head. What a waste of real manpower. I wish they could let him shrivel like a prune, dry up, and go away.
I do as well. My son wears that uniform.
Thanks don-o.
Turkish Army calls for calm and restraint over coup plot verdicts
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-army-calls-for-calm-and-restraint-over-coup-plot-verdicts.aspx?PageID=238&NID=52107&NewsCatID=339
Ergenekon trial not political: Turkish justice minister
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ergenekon-trial-not-political-turkish-justice-minister.aspx?pageID=238&nID=52131&NewsCatID=338
Why I am not happy about Ergenekon verdicts
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/why-i-am-not-happy-about-ergenekon-verdicts.aspx?PageID=238&NID=52116&NewsCatID=411
Turkey’s inside man(Iman lives in PA, USA)
World Magazine | 7-27-13 | Jill Nelson
Posted on 07/31/2013 6:03:46 AM PDT by outinyellowdogcountry
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3049395/posts
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