Turkish President Erdogan declares coup attempt over; 754 people arrested

CNN ^ | June 15, 2016 | Steve Almasy, CNN

[Innovative]

As dawn broke in Istanbul on Saturday, Turkey's largest city, it was still unclear whether an attempt by the military to wrest control from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been successful.

A defiant Erdogan addressed crowds in the city, telling them that the coup had been quashed. "The government is in control," he told supporters.

[Does so]

Maybe now, Obama will start attending US Intelligence briefings?

[DarthVader]

“What disgusts me is that NATO, and possibly even the U.S., provided military support to Erdogan during this. Otherwise, he would not have landed at the airport in Istanbul last night,”

That is very possible but the fighting is still going on at this hour and this situation looks tempting for Putin to get into. He can throw his military into this fight to beat back Erdogan like NATO. Putin has the balls and the firepower to crush NATO like an egg. The Rand Corp just put out a study which showed that Russia can destroy NATO on the Eurasian continent in 60 hours. I won’t put this past Vlad as he has no fear of Obama in any shape or form.

[lee martell]

Now Erdogan will be REALLY paranoid. If you so much as look cross-eyed at his image, you risk being thrown into Lock-UP and forgotten about. Your family would hear nothing and better not start complaining about their Dear Leader.
Sort of like Cuba or Venezuela.

[lee martell]

You think it was expensive amateur theater? One has to wonder, with reports of military troops surrendering ‘in droves’ and with great eagerness. I have heard of seven course dinners that last longer than this ‘coup’. Doesn’t sound like the Turkish Military I’ve heard about, who can be on par with the Kurds in terms of dishing out the torture.

[Paladin2]

Bummer. Even if the counter revolutionaries were Islamic.

[PastorBooks]

“The Rand Corp just put out a study which showed that Russia can destroy NATO on the Eurasian continent in 60 hours.”

Interesting... Do you know of a link?

[dp0622]

you’re right. If this coup failed it is because turkey is a much more fanatical country than even 10 years ago and of course oblowme loves it.

They should by one of our top enemies, buying oil from ISIS but Europe and we turned a blind eye to that.

Because we have a muslim piece of #### for pres, and they are cowards.

I would love to see Russia blast them straight back to hell.

[DarthVader]

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a21344/us-claims-russia-could-defeat-nato-in-60-hours/

[DarthVader]

“I would love to see Russia blast them straight back to hell”

The fighting is still going on right now and I have been thinking Putin may very well start to help the anti-Erdogan forces and turn the tables. He has a hard on for both Erdogan and OBotulism. Our POS potus does not have the balls to take on Vlad.

[dinodino]

You mean, “How *is* my stay at the airport?” Lovely.

[nathanbedford]

The interesting questions for me include:

1. Will Pres. Erdogan initiate a purge of the military?

The answer that one is easy, he certainly will purge the military and the question is whether the purge will extend into civilian ranks.

2. Will Turkey accelerate its lurch toward Islamicist sharia?

Again the answer appears to be easy, Erdogan will almost certainly accelerate the move towards sharia if only for his own protection and because he will have owed those Islamists who have stood by him during the coup.

3. Will Turkey's affiliation with NATO become even more strained?

Very likely.

4. Will the deal cut between Merkel and Turkey survive? Will Turks be admitted into the European Union without visas? Will Turkey's lurch toward sharia alienated it from the European Union?

I suspect the deal will survive on paper but somehow never quite be implemented as resistance to the incorporation of Turkey into the EU grows in the wake of Nice, the expected crackdown in Turkey after the coup, and the next terrorist strike. The failure of the coup might not be entirely without a silver lining.

When dealing with a Muslim country the idea that democracy should prevail is utterly irrelevant. To follow that rule is to subject our foreign policy to country after country having one vote, one time. There is no philosophical, cultural, or religious support for democracy in Islam. To maintain that the United States should not support a coup which ostensibly is undemocratic, can be very naïve.

[Aaron0617]

“Now the executions begin.”
Do the Turks, hang, use firing squad or behead?

I see numbers like 1500 military officers (CNN). Well, this is treason. have to kill them all.

[dp0622]

I’ve read it’s failed. I hope you’re right.

They might as well fight to the death at this point cause they’re dead men if they lose.

Turkey is much more fanatical than at the turn of the century (first time i’ve used that expression for the 21st)

Heartbreaking. W Europe and the US president are cowards.

I think, however, as much as I want it, NATO would come to Turkey’s aid if attacked by Moscow. dammit.

Turkey she be at the top of our enemies list for too many reasons to count.

How did buying ISIS oil just turn into a big nothing??!!

Letting them come and go freely too?

Bro, this mother ####er sitting in the WH can’t leave fast enough for me.

And anyone who voted for him or votes for hillary is my enemy.

[cgbg]

CNN coverage of the coup has been pathetic in a variety of ways.

(1) They keep waiting for US government sources to tell them what is happening. Those sources are pathological liars with axes to grind.

(2) They have very limited coverage outside of the Istanbul. Turkey is a big country. CNN should be covering at least several major cities.

(3) CNN has ignored many possible other sources of information, including controversial ones like Tarpley or the exiled Turkey figure living in PA. They need to put a wide range of voices on the air, including supporters of the coup.

(4) The analysis has been very weak, and short on facts. Turkey’s connection to ISIS clearly should be discussed. Russian interests in the region should be analyzed, etc.

Overall grade—D.

Redo the grade.

[Ann Archy]

F!!!!!

[DarthVader]

Been watching Fox News and their affiliate over there says the fighting is still going on. Erdogan is in Istanbul not Ankara what does that tell you.

“I think, however, as much as I want it, NATO would come to Turkey’s aid if attacked by Moscow. dammit.”

Like they can do anything anymore. NATO is comprised of cheese eating wimps.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a21344/us-claims-russia-could-defeat-nato-in-60-hours/

“And anyone who voted for him or votes for hillary is my enemy.”

Ditto

[dp0622]

NATO has become a joke.

If I were Eastern European, I wouldn’t be so sure they’ve got my back.

Thanks for the hope on Turkey’s situation. Didn’t know he was still in Istanbul.

[VermithraxPejorative]

We keep being told how Islam is a religion of peace and look at all the countries dominated by it. Turkey is heading for extremism and the West just goes on supporting this dictator undoing all of Turkey’s democratic past.

[Psalm 144]

Hopefully this Moslem BFF of Obama’s will still see a Romanian retirement.

Regardless, this weakens one of ISIS’ props in the world, which is a good thing.

[Psalm 144]

The whole damned thing is suspicious - this seemed to fold so quickly. Social media call for people in the streets - unarmed people - causes the military to immediately stand down. Turned it around on a dime. I don’t know, there’s a lot happening we aren’t seeing.

#############

Gorbachev pulled some kind of simulated coup before the real uprising brought down the Soviet Union. It was some kind of wag the dog thing to consolidate his crumbling power. We’ll see.