Military coup underway in Turkey

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Sıtkı ÖzcanVerified account
‏@sitkiozcan
State imam refuses to lead the funeral service of a teacher who was tortured to death under police custody. #Turkey

Retirefund ‏@Retirefund 3h3 hours ago
#Erdogan - The #Islamist takeover of #Turkey.
A disturbing and troubling development for the free world!



Yup.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/08/07/Erdogan-I-will-open-new-page-with-my-friend-Putin-.html

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expects talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to open "a new page" in bilateral relations, he told the Russian news agency TASS in an interview published on Sunday.

"This will be a historic visit, a new beginning. At the talks with my friend Vladimir (Putin), I believe, a new page in bilateral relations will be opened. Our countries have a lot to do together," TASS quoted Erdogan as saying. Erdogan is due to travel to Russia on Tuesday

Another triumph for Washington - has Obama had a look at a map of the Middle East recently? Seen how many countries are now in the Kremlin's sphere of influence, and how many despise him?

.....and........here we have Erdogan with Gulen, who is in Philadelphia, in his sights.

Oh Lord, I'd forgotten about that detail, Lily.

On the plus side, I don't see even Merkel being weak and feckless enough to now let Turkey into the EU. What happens with all the 'migrants' she's been bribing him to keep, I have NO idea.

On the minus side, there are dark clouds looming on the horizon?

Well, as a huge swathe of territory in the Middle East is now onside with Moscow, there's little chance of any of Hillary's rotten chums getting away with any future 'regime changing', Lily. And Trump has made his views on stupid military adventures plain....

In the general uproar, this little titbit has almost escaped notice:

https://www.rt.com/news/348497-israel-turkey-normalize-ties/

Israel, Turkey reach agreement to normalize ties – Israeli official
Published time: 26 Jun, 2016 17:39
Edited time: 26 Jun, 2016 20:44


Israel and Turkey have reached an agreement to normalize ties, a senior Israeli official told reporters, according to Reuters. This will end bitter rift over the Israeli Navy’s killing of nine Turkish citizens during a Gaza flotilla raid in 2010.
The agreement, which took three years to reach, is expected to be officially announced on Monday, said the official traveling with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently in Rome.

The restoration of full diplomatic relations that deteriorated after the Israeli navy's killed nine Turkish and one Turkish-American pro-Palestinian activists in 2010 has been brokered with the help of Washington.

Israel conducted an operation against six civilian ships that belonged to the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The ships fit by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) were carrying humanitarian and construction supplies to the blockaded Gaza Strip.

The deal is likely to involve compensation (of around $20 million) to the families of the killed Turks and higher Turkish aid and development projects for Gaza, Israeli media report.

The $20 million in compensation will come as a humanitarian act to a special fund organized for the families of the victims killed by the IDF soldiers. The payment is external to the agreement, an act of good will, and doesn’t imply that Israel has acknowledged responsibility for the incident, the official stressed, according to the Jerusalem Post. The transaction will be carried out as soon as Turkey passes law making it impossible for the families to file further claims against Israeli officers or soldiers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reportedly pledged to make effort to release the bodies of two Israeli soldiers that are held by the Hamas organization in the Gaza Strip and two other Israeli civilians....etc.

That has huge implications, IMO.

I would say so, Bonny.

Yes, you've done that all right.

Is there really a place for Ottoman Empire 2, allied with Russia, in NATO?

http://www.dailysabah.com/americas/2016/08/08/democracy-rally-held-in-front-of-white-house-gulenist-coup-attempt-in-turkey-condemned?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter



Turkish Americans and American Muslims staged a rally on Sunday in front of the White House to show support for Turkish democracy after the failed Gülenist coup of July 15.

The 'Democracy against Coup' rally was organized by the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC), which is an umbrella organization for approximately 150 Turkish-American associations.

Let the protesters get on with it. It's all they know what to do......

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160808/1044044484/iran-russia-turkey-cooperation.html

Iran is interested in cooperating with Russia and Turkey on a trilateral basis, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Rahimpur said.

BAKU (Sputnik) — Tehran's main goal is to ensure peace in the region, according to the deputy minister.

"We are ready to cooperate in such a format," Rahimpur told RIA Novosti.

"Our main goal is to ensure peace in the region," he added. "We think that the countries in the region are the ones who need to take decisions regarding themselves, not countries outside the region. Compared to the Arabs and Western states, we could very easily solve regional problems."

That's for sure....forcibly regime-changing sovereign nations has to be the most stupid, destructive, plain evil thing Washington has ever done.

Joumana Gebara ‏@JoumanaGebara 7m7 minutes ago
Any #US and #EU sanctions on #Turkey mean game-over for #Erdogan

Yes, look at the way Russia and Iran have been destroyed.

Do these half-wits still not grasp that sanctions make things EASIER for whoever is being sanctioned, as it gives them an external enemy to blame and point at?

http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/23803-was-cia-backed-mullah-behind-turkey-coup-attempt

Was CIA-backed Mullah Behind Turkey Coup Attempt?

I don't know how much of that is accurate, and how much is conspiraloonacy. However this:

Some very serious questions begged to be asked ... and answered, such as: Who is Mullah Fethullah Gülen, and why has this Turkish national been given apparent immunity? Who has assisted Mullah Gülen in building a vast, multi-billion dollar “educational” empire of Islamic Charter Schools across the United States and spanning the globe — and why? Was a “Gülen Network” backed by the CIA and the Obama-Clinton-Kerry State Department responsible for the recent coup effort?

is EXACTLY the kind of incompetent, insane meddling that gang have become notorious for over the last few years. Time will tell.

Turkey detains 10 foreigners over suspected ties to Gulen
August 08, 2016
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish authorities have detained at least 10 foreign nationals suspected of ties to a U.S.-based cleric whom Turkey accuses of masterminding the July 15 failed coup, a senior official said Monday.
http://www.mail.com/int/news/us/4529330-turkey-detains-10-foreigners-suspected-ties-to-gul.html#.1258-stage-hero1-1

"I have no doubt that U.S. officials will review their stance (on Gulen)," Kurtulmus said. "Either they will continue to protect three or five bandits, or they will act in a way that will allow them to win the hearts of a nation of 79 million people."

I can't think of an easy way out of this for Washington, LL. If - big IF - there is any substance to the spreading rumours that Washington was involved in the attempted coup, the last thing they're going to do is hand anyone over to be, er, persuaded to spill the beans in Ankara.

And Turkey is now part of the growing pro-Russia alliance in the Middle East - even Israel is on speaking terms.

I can't see a solution, frankly - this is the crowning IN-glory of Obama's foreign policy disasters.

Turkey: US shouldn't 'sacrifice' alliance over Muslim cleric
August 09, 2016
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's justice minister said Tuesday the United States would be sacrificing its alliance with Turkey to "a terrorist" if it were to refuse to extradite a U.S.-based Muslim cleric whom the government says is behind the July 15 failed coup.
http://www.mail.com/int/news/us/4531188-turkey-us-sacrifice-alliance-muslim-cleric.html#.1258-stage-hero1-2

I have a feeling Turkey doesn't greatly care what Washington, NATO or the EU thinks of anything now, LL-

https://www.rt.com/business/355245-turkey-restart-tukish-stream/

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the Turkish Stream pipeline is going ahead and will be implemented swiftly. The project to deliver Russian gas to Europe via Turkey had been put on hold several times. The announcement came after Tuesday's meeting with President Putin in St. Petersburg.
Read more
© Gleb Garanich Ankara ready to resume talks on Turkish Stream project
The Turkish Stream project was parked late last year due to the dispute between Moscow and Ankara after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane in Syria. However, with a thaw in relations the project is expected to be given another life.

The pipeline was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2014 during a visit to Turkey. The project was to replace the abandoned South Stream pipeline through Bulgaria.

The sides also decided to continue implementing the Akkuyu NPP, Turkey’s first nuclear power plant. The project to build four 1,200 MW generators each for $20 billion was signed in May 2010. Before the relations between the countries deteriorated, the first unit was planned to be opened in 2022.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

I haven't the words for what a complete and utter screw up US foreign policy has been in recent years. About the only good thing I can think of to say about everywhere from Istanbul to Tehran, via Egypt and even Israel, being onside with Russia, is that those countries might become more stable and safe again.

If only because anyone even thinking of stirring up trouble will be shot dead on the spot.

Could someone please break it to Obama, Clinton and co that bombing the Middle East into Freedumb hasn't worked out awfully well?

The most important thing on their minds (I mean the Clintons) is making more money. I have not a clue as to the Obamas.

And the second most important is whatever Trump says, so they may not have noticed that the entire Middle East is decamping to the warm embrace of Moscow.....

True whilst trying to pretend it is not happening.....

Putin, Erdogan agree on steps to mend relations
August 09, 2016
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Turkey's president cozied up to his "dear friend" Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in a visit intended to send a message to his allies in the West, whom he blames for what he considers a lack of support after a failed coup.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pressed the United States to extradite the man he claims was behind the failed insurrection, and has sought more funds and visa-free travel from the European Union, but it's unclear what leverage improved ties with Russia could give him.

Putin, in turn, expects Turkey to become more accommodating of Russia's interests in Syria and move faster on major energy projects — demands Ankara could find difficult to meet. After their talks in St. Petersburg's ornate Konstantin Palace, both leaders emphasized their shared desire to rebuild ties, but it remained unclear if they could reach common ground on the Syrian crisis. While Moscow has backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nation's civil war and further bolstered that support by launching an air campaign last September, Turkey has pushed for Assad's removal and helped his foes.

Putin said he and Erdogan would have a separate discussion on Syria later Tuesday involving top diplomats and intelligence officials. Repeatedly calling Putin his "dear friend," Erdogan refrained from mentioning any sticking points after the talks, saying he expects ties to fully blossom again soon. He said Turkey is ready to implement a natural gas pipeline project proposed by Moscow and a deal for Russia to build Turkey's first nuclear power plant.

Both projects were announced years earlier, but had been held back by commercial disputes even before Turkey's downing of a Russian jet at the Syrian border last November. The shoot-down, which Putin called a "treacherous stab in the back," brought relations to a freezing point where they remained for seven months until Erdogan apologized to Russia in June. Putin responded by ordering his government to start rebuilding ties with Turkey, and when Erdogan faced the botched coup attempt on July 15 the Russian leader quickly offered his support.

Erdogan emphasized that pledge of support, saying "it was very important for us psychologically. It offered us moral support and showed Russia's solidarity with Turkey." While Putin also spoke of rebuilding ties, he sounded more cautious, warning that it will take time to fully restore them.

Moscow has accused the Turkish government of turning a blind eye to the flow of weapons and supplies to the Islamic State group and other extremists in Syria. While the Kremlin has tempered its rhetoric amid the rapprochement, Putin will most certainly push Erdogan to cut support for the rebels engaged in a fierce battle with Assad's forces in Aleppo.

Moscow could use economic levers to force Turkey to compromise on Syria. Turkey badly needs the flow of Russian tourists to resume, and Turkish farmers, construction companies and other businesses badly need to regain access to the Russian market, which has been shut to them after the plane's downing.

Putin said Tuesday that charter flights to Turkey could resume "in the near future," but added that "painstaking work is ahead to revive trade and economic cooperation." "This process has been launched, but it will take some time," the Russian leader said.

While ties with Russia can't substitute Turkey's economic and security cooperation with the U.S. and the EU and its membership in NATO, Erdogan clearly hopes to use the Russia card to strengthen his hand in disputes with his Western partners.

Turkey has pressed the United States hard to extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric the government blames for the failed coup. Gulen has repeatedly denied any involvement. The dispute has strained U.S.-Turkish ties, with some Turkish officials implying Washington could have been behind the coup. The Obama administration has strongly denied that.

Speaking after the talks with Putin, Erdogan reiterated his contention that Gulen was behind the failed insurrection and alleged that the coup plotters were also responsible for the crisis in relations with Russia. He didn't touch on Ankara's demand for Gulen's extradition.

The failed coup saw renegade Turkish military officers using jets, helicopters and tanks try to take power in a night of violence that left more than 270 people dead. Since then, about 18,000 people have been detained or arrested and nearly 70,000 others suspected of links to Gulen have been suspended or dismissed from the civil service, judiciary, education, health care and the military.

Turkish officials have fumed at expressions of concern over the sweeping crackdown from European officials and rights groups, and accused the West of failing to show support for a democratically elected government. Ankara also lashed out at the EU for failing to uphold its end of an EU-Turkey agreement on migration.

The deal, struck in March, helped stem the flow of migrants from Turkey to the nearby Greek islands in exchange for an EU pledge of funds and visa-free travel for Turks. But plans to ease visa rules have run into trouble and Erdogan accused the EU earlier this month of failing to deliver the promised funds.

In contrast with his criticism of the U.S. and the EU, Erdogan heaped praise on Putin for offering support after the coup, saying: "We are strongly determined to take our relations to the pre-crisis and even higher level."

Putin responded in kind, saying that "higher interests of our peoples, our nations require the restoration of our ties."

Thanks, LL - this is moving quickly...

This seems to be the cover story for the shot-down jet:

http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2016/07/29/feto-targeted-turkish-russian-ties-by-downing-russian-jet-analysts-say

The world woke up to shocking news on Nov. 24 last year, when a Russian fighter jet was shot down on the Turkish-Syrian border for violating Turkish airspace. As Ankara and the Kremlin exchanged harsh words in response to the crisis, the two countries' strong relations took a major hit, entering a fragile and uncertain new phase. Though the two countries were waging a diplomatic war over the shooting down of the Russian jet, Turkey is now debating whether or not the two pilots who shot down the Russian jet were in fact members of the Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ) led by U.S.-based Fethullah Gülen after they were detained for their involvement in the July 15 coup attempt. Turkey and Russia had begun to forge a close alliance when the unprecedented jet crisis spoiled the whole script....etc.


I have absolutely NO idea what is true, and what isn't - if anything is true about any of these events.