Russian, US and EU sources are all reporting that a military coup is in progress in Turkey.
It is way too early to comment on these events, but I have to say that while I was hoping for exactly such an events for the past 7 months, the timing here looks very suspicious to me and I wonder which side is behind it.
This is huge and I am creating an open thread here.
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I will be away from the computer for the next 3 hours. After that, I will be back here to join the conversation.
The Saker
Hello.
About 4 hours ago a turkish military helicopter landed at Alexadroupolis international airport citing mechanical failure. After that, the 8 people on board have requested political asylum from Greece.
Obviously Turkey wants their extradiction.
http://www.amna.gr/english/article/14537/Turkish-military-officers-seek-political-asylum-in-Greece
Access to Turkish US air base Incirlik blocked, power cut off – Consulate
Greece should protect them. Even Kurdish nationalist are disgusted by videos of soldiers being whipped, tortured and having their throats slashed and being beheaded by “AKP mobs”.
Gulenist Involved in Killing of Russian Pilot Took Part in Attempted Coup
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160716/1043108695/turkey-coup-pilot-russia.html
“A member of the movement tied to the so-called parallel state linked to prominent Turkish oppositionist Fethullah Gulen, who was involved in killing of Russian pilot over Syria last year, participated in attempted coup in Turkey, Mayor of the Turkish capital of Ankara Ibrahim Melih Gokcek said.
Supporters of Tukish President Tayyip Erdogan celebrate after soldiers involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey July 16, 2016
On Friday, the military coup attempt was carried out in Turkey. According to the Turkish General Staff, 104 coup supporters were killed, while 47 civilians, 41 police officers, 2 soldiers died in clashes. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Edrogan accused Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, an outspoken critic of the government in self-imposed exile in the United States, of organizing the unrest.
“It was the ‘parallel state’ that has deteriorated our relations with Russia. It was an incident, in which one of the pilots of this structures has participated, I guarantee it. He was one of the coup’s participants. We have not voiced it until now. But I, Melih Gokcek, say that our relations have been deteriorated by these villains,” Gokcek said, as quoted by CNN Turk.
He added that the “parallel state” intended to isolate Turkey in the international arena.”
Very very convenient “coup” for Erdogan. Now he has all needed reasons to totally clean up the country of every real, potential, or fancied opposant and a highway to absolute full power for himself. Plus no one will discuss his recent 180° turn in foreign politics.
I have a growing feeling that he is behind all this show.
This guy as politician has more lives that a cat.
After seeing all that, the “failed coup(?”) in Turkey appears more and more a sort of trigger in the same way as was the Reichstag fire in 1933 Germany that opened the gates to national socialism of Hitler…
It’s sooooo obvious.
Erdogan just stage-managed his own Reichstag fire. Now watch for the “President” to have sweeping new powers in his office legislated as he launches his Night of the Long Knives. All political opponents will have their names on existing lists transferred over to the “Coup Plotters List of Traitors.” Arrest and detainment without due process, death penalty brought back–Turkey under Erdogan moves into a new fascist dark night of the soul.
I feel such empathy for the educated Turks who detest this revolting man and now have to see his power amped up, wrapped in the Turkish flag.