Posted on Jun 21, 2018
Don't Turn The Turkish Army Into A Political Tool
503
13
3
4
4
0
As Turkey once again spirals toward authoritarianism, the June 24 election could be a turning point in relations between soldiers and civilians — a worrying development in a country that has been plagued by coups and military interventions almost every decade since 1960.
Don't Turn The Turkish Army Into A Political Tool
Posted from foreignpolicy.comPosted in these groups: 
Turkey
Turkey
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Make no mistake. There are HUNDREDS of retired and active Colonels and Generals in jail in Turkey. The military is so afraid of Erdogan that they will do nothing against him. Why do you think he stayed out of the last coups? It is commonly believed that he staged it to complete his clean up of the Turkish General Staff. His goal is a secular state with islamic principals firmly in charge. So...back to the ottoman empire they go!
(2)
(0)
CDR Dan Cunningham
Your comment is spot on. The purge started with 'Ergenekon' and when that didn't finish the job Erdogan staged the coup to clean up the loose ends. The TGS floated what's become known as 'The April Memorandum' in 2007, but judged they didn't have public support at that point. That was their undoing.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Back in the day, it was the Army that helped balance Turkey. After the failed coup, I guess the balance has shifted. This is not good, we could well se the rising of a second ottoman empire.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google