[Gorefest]

Terrorism in the west didnt seem like the right place for this after all.

Turkey reports that the military forces have staged a coup. Communications are being shut down. Erdogan and Yilderim claim it is only rogue elements of the military, but the military sources themselves counteract this.

[Tiste Simeon]

Flipping heck, it's non-stop now! Chaos, everywhere! When, where is it going to end? I know I'm not adding much to the conversation but I just don't know what to think any more!

[Mentalist]

Traditionally, the military are a secular bunch (especially in Turkey).

If they start a coup agaist Erdogan, is it because of his helping ISIL to sell their oil on the DL? Or are they looking for a break with the West and reorienting foreign policy more in line with Iran?

How does that work in a NATO country? The implications are pretty staggering?


@ Tiste: most likely it'll keep getting worse until aliens/robots/zombies take over

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 15 July 2016 - 09:08 PM

[Gorefest]

Well, Turkey is currently forming the main buffer and base of operations for the west in the region. It is a vital checkpoint in regulating the refugee streams into Europe and it is an important launch point for activities against ISIS. So either this could be pretty bad, or it could be a good thing in that Erdogan was getting a bit radical himself. So a military coup could actually return stability.

[Mentalist]

Like I said, the big question is which way the military is leaning, an who is backing them.

[Gorefest]

Erdogan is calling on ordinary citizens to go out into the streets and defy and fight the military.

Right, i think I've just decided whose side I am on. What a freaking nutcase.

[Mentalist]

Ironic, given how he handled the Tahrir (sp?) Square protests.

But not unheard of. Is he trying to pit thethe police against the rebels? Is the entire military involved, or only separate units? If so, are they concentrated in a particular region?

if there's a bunch of "fence sitting units, then, yes, Erdogan needs thousands on the streets, claiming they want the democratically elected Erdogan in charge. Then the fence sitters will eventually acknowledge that he is in charge (if enough civilians step up).

If the insurrection is wholesale, and the entire military is against him, then it's a move that will get a lot of people killed.

[Puck]

It looks like the land forces and air force are with the coup, while the navy and secret forces are with the government. The military claim they want to re-establish democracy and human rights. Holy hell.

[Gorefest]

Policemen arresting military personnel. This is getting very bizarre. Rumours now are that the source behind the coup is a religious bloke called Gulen who is located in the USA. He is supposedly a former ally of Erdogan before they fell out and his influence has gradually spread throughout the military and the police force.

[Coltaine -]

The military retreated from the Airport in Istanbul. And in the news was a interview with a reporter in Istambul. He spoke a broken german. I did not understand everything he said. But there are definitly fights between police and soldiers in Istanbul

This post has been edited by - Coltaine -: 15 July 2016 - 11:04 PM

[Mentalist]

If Erdogan has regular police + special forces on his side, he'll last. This is gonna end the same way as the last anti-Chavez coup.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 15 July 2016 - 11:10 PM

[Vengeance]

Gorefest, on 15 July 2016 - 10:42 PM, said:

Policemen arresting military personnel. This is getting very bizarre. Rumours now are that the source behind the coup is a religious bloke called Gulen who is located in the USA. He is supposedly a former ally of Erdogan before they fell out and his influence has gradually spread throughout the military and the police force.

To be fair erdogan blames gulen for everything. So that is no surprise. The live stream on Reddit is crazy.

[worry]

Haven't seen Reddit but this is from the Bloomberg live tracking: http://www.bloomberg...trol-of-country

General Umit Dundar, commander of the 1st army, is on phone connection now with Haberturk, saying it's a minority within his unit that's involved. He has asked them to return to the barracks and end their attempt. He's also moving other 1st army units from western Turkey toward Istanbul to oppose this minority group, the general says

[Vengeance]

Gulen denounces tte coup now!

[Vengeance]

Reddit live link.

[HoosierDaddy]

Well, fuck.

[Puck]

Well, looks like Erdogan's in Istanbul now and they repealed the coup.

[Aptorian]

Considering the stuff I've been hearing about Erdogan the past year, a coup does not sound like a bad thing. Question is of course what the outcome will be.

[worry]

I dunno about all the various outcomes, but consensus seems to be that a failed coup helps legitimize and reinforce his autocratic tendencies.

[Mentalist]

When a leader enjoys genuine support of 60-70% of the voters, and has a significant presence in the security/law enforcement structures, coups like this tend to backfire.

Now we will see a wave of "housecleaning" and rootin out of any dissenters. Becau nothing makes a leader feel that he was totally right more than a failed coup.