One explanation what is going on?
I am still trying to follow this developing situation, with the current Islamic government pursuing via the criminal justice route the leadership of the army and other critics.
Hat tip to FP Blog for offering a background explanation, 'Behind Bars in the Deep State' which is sub-titled:
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Does a shadowy mullah in Pennsylvania really hold the reins of power in Turkey? If not, then why are the country’s leaders so intent on silencing a single investigative journalist?
The article points the finger at a shadowy Muslim group.
Oddly the article has been pulled and is not cached. Will try to link another day.
A Different War on Terrorism: The U.S., Turkey and the PKK
A Different War on Terrorism: The U.S., Turkey and the PKK
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Book Review: Democracy, Islam and Secularism in Turkey
Book Review: Democracy, Islam and Secularism in Turkey
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Turkey, the end of Islamism with a human face
An interesting analysis of what is going on:
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Turkey's AKP government has over a decade promised a new model of governance: progressive and reformist, Islamist and democratic. But a series of developments, including the expanding power of prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is now exposing the party and its policies to ever-deeper scrutiny....
Link:http://www.opendemocracy.net/kerem-o...ith-human-face
The Fetullah Gulen movement in Azerbaijan
Hat tip to a "lurker" for this article, published by the Hudson Institute, 'The Gulen Movement in Azerbaijan' by Fuad Aliyev:http://www.currenttrends.org/researc...-in-azerbaijan
The conclusion starts with:
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The Glen movement has arguably emerged as the most successful movement in Azerbaijans unfolding Islamic revival. No other Islamic movement in Azerbaijan can claim such an extensive organization or level of influence in business, charity, lobbying and, above all, in the field of education. Moreover, the movement has managed to acquire this influence without revealing its ideological mission. This has, not surprisingly, generated considerable suspicion of its motives. And despite its reputation as a post- Islamist movement that seeks integration with society, it is nonetheless still widely perceived as having a religious-political agenda.
Not sure if there is an Azerbaijan thread, so placed here.
Once powerful, now so many officers are in jail
It is more than admirals, but The Economist provides an update on the apparent emasculation of the Turkish military by the civilian government. It starts with:
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..has nobody to command its navy. Just such a situation looms in Turkey after this week’s resignation of Admiral Nusret Guner, the number two in the navy who was expected to take over when its incumbent head steps down in August. There are no other qualified candidates, not least because more than half of Turkey’s admirals are in jail...
Link:http://www.economist.com/news/europe...d_his_generals
Why Syrians in Turkey are Not “Refugees” and Why it Matters
Why Syrians in Turkey are Not “Refugees” and Why it Matters
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The Young Ataturk: From Ottoman Soldier to Statesman of Turkey
The Young Ataturk: From Ottoman Soldier to Statesman of Turkey
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Sledgehammers and Byzantine politics
In August 2011 the contest between the politicians and generals appeared to end with the 'Sledgehammer' criminal charges being laid against over two hundred suspects (see Posts 33-35). A 2014 BBC report after earlier trials and appeals:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24457491
Today on Twitter a US observer tweeted:
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Sledgehammer saga ends as Turkish court acquits all defendants, citing strong suspicion of fake evidence.
One I think Turksih report:http://www.worldbulletin.net/turkey/...tary-coup-case
Curiously and purely by coincidence attention has been diverted, including the BBC, to two quite different news stories. First a near nation-wide electricity outage:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32130567
Then a siege in Istanbul, where a banned Marxist-Leninist group DHKP-C, have seized a state prosecutor in a court building. News report:http://mashable.com/2015/03/31/prose...bjBrb2xtdF8ifQ
Or the BBC:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32129012
Background reading on this group, suitably Byzantine:http://america.aljazeera.com/article...oodarrows.html
Inside Turkey a small war
Those who watch Turkey will probably know, but given its regional role we should note "enemies to the front and rear". The article starts with:
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The latest footage to come out of Sur, the historical district in Diyarbakir that has been under total lock down by Turkish armed forces for the past sixty days, shows a level of devastation one would sooner expect in Syria. In more ways than one – empty streets lined with debris, bombed-out buildings, tanks and soldiers shooting at invisible assailants – the situation in Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish southeastern regions resembles a war zone.
Link:http://www.juancole.com/2016/02/turk...escalates.html
Then a UK paper headline, sadly:
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Horrific video 'shows unarmed Kurds waving white flag shot dead by Turkish soldiers'
Link:http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-n...-kurds-7225065