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There has been a *gradual* build up with Erdo since 2006-2007, when his party and he won the elections. Thereafter, gradually trying to change the constitution to become more Islamic and purging Turkish military, originally designed by Ataturk to be secular and in fact defenders of that secular constitution.

In my old blog about Iran I mentioned before here, I wrote about it, and some secular Turks fully saw this coming too. Other Turks accused them of being “Kemalists” and what Erdo was doing wasn’t to be taken seriously. Now we see it was always to be taken VERY seriously.

More recently, he went and shot down that Russian jet, got into sanctions & tit for tat with Putin, all because Turkey is in NATO and Erdo thinks he can - he got too big for his shoes.

Putin few months ago began to rebuild bridges, partly to exercise influence and to rein him in. But then, the US doesn’t take kindly to shifting alliances, especially since Turkey is in NATO. Hence the coup attempt, and following that a series of ‘unfortunate disturbances’ in Turkey.

Moreover, Gulen is being positioned and sold as a “modernizer of Islam” (ha ha), and potentially the alternative to Erdo. Now Gulen is another Islamist, be it one who is favoured by the US because he may be seen as more manageable.

Erdo realises they are trying to get rid of him, and is scared. All his efforts (including ‘Human rights violations’ & executive power/decree) are because he is on the defensive & wants total control. The silly goof perhaps doesn’t realise that as he goes on his rampage, he also increases the possibility of shooting himself more in the foot.

I am not surprised about the article mentioning Sisi’s violation of human rights too. It’s the ME and that’s what happens and often needs to happen to regain complete control. But just depends on who is being arrested/killed/jailed, and who is the alternative to take power.

For example, what Sisi is doing is what the Shah should’ve done in Iran too when the Khomeinists, Marxists and Communists were cutting off electricity several hours a day to generate public discontent, were blowing up crowded cinemas, distributing anti-Shah propaganda, and so on.. (and blaming it all on the Shah and his govt). There was a build up to the revolution in Iran too; 7 years in the making, at least. Towards the end it got worse. Carter, OTOH, was screaming and pressuring the Shah and the military to exercise democracy and give the thugs more freedom!

Anyway, the discussion about Egypt and Iran is whole different topic worthy of its own thread. My points at moment are: 1) there are similarities between how these countries are destabilised or controlled. 2) what happens in each ultimately contributes to collective chaos in that region.