Trouble Brewing In Turkey

Beware that it's a Novak column so standard disclaimers apply, but still...

The surprising answer was given in secret briefings on Capitol Hill last week by Eric S. Edelman, a former aide to Vice President Cheney who is now undersecretary of defense for policy. Edelman, a Foreign Service officer who once was U.S. ambassador to Turkey, revealed to lawmakers plans for a covert operation of U.S. Special Forces to help the Turks neutralize the PKK. They would behead the guerrilla organization by helping Turkey get rid of PKK leaders that they have targeted for years.

Edelman's listeners were stunned. Wasn't this risky? He responded that he was sure of success, adding that the U.S. role could be concealed and always would be denied. Even if all this is true, some of the briefed lawmakers left wondering whether this was a wise policy for handling the beleaguered Kurds, who had been betrayed so often by the U.S. government in years past.

The plan shows that hard experience has not dissuaded President Bush from attempting difficult ventures employing the use of force. On the contrary, two of the most intrepid supporters of the Iraq intervention -- John McCain and Lindsey Graham-- were surprised by Bush during a recent meeting with him. When they shared their impressions with colleagues, they commented on how unconcerned the president seemed. That may explain his willingness to embark on such a questionable venture against the Kurds.

Edelman is a real piece of work too

Nothing can possibly go wrong here, right?

Not at all. I wonder what defense contractors have signed off on their deals.

Hmmm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22740282

What's going on here then? Park redevelopment isn't the type of issue that would normally spark civil unrest. I wasn't aware of anything else in particular bubbling under.

What began as a small scale, peaceful protest to clear Gezi Park, one of the few remaining green spaces left in Taksim, has escalated into some of the worst scenes of public disorder and police violence seen in Turkey in recent years.

Guess someone wants to develop a park site into a mall?

Erdogan is really pushing it. In his speech today he said people on twitter are 'fascists'. And if the protestors can muster up 200,000 people, he will form a group of a million.

The park redevelopment is bringing out deeper underlying sentiments of unease amongst the more liberal minded people. About new imposed laws restricting alcohol use, 'kiss in's' that recently have been disturbed by religious/fundamentalist groups.

The extreme violence used by the police in response to the park protests has sparked an outrage, with as a result more police violence. At least that is what I am getting from the reports.

http://occupygezipics.tumblr.com/

& an Elif Batuman piece: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/06/occupy-taksim-police-against-protesters-in-istanbul.html

Oops, hadn't realised the discussion was taking place in the Occupy thread.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/83a6cfdf3a69abbd3b13ab5055e8e9e3/tumblr_mnqhatKzqU1ste7qoo1_1280.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QRuNCc9.png

Riots In Turkey: Revolution With The Smell Of Kebabs

Komsomolskaya Pravda keeping it classy.

Bulent Arinc the Deputy PM, looks to be attempting a negotiation with the leaders of the protests atm. He apologised for the police response.

can we start 2016 again

oh, MENA's on it. but still, I woz ere etc

Would love to think at some point in the near future we could finally be rid of this ghoul, Erdogan, but we'll have to wait and see.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/14/turkish-polls-close-after-record-numbers-vote-in-test-of-erdogans-rule

he's done a lot better than the polling suggested he would which makes the accusations of voting fraud and obstruction of election observers, dubious recounting fuckery etc perhaps seem very credible

It could also be that his vote has held up. But unless some concrete proof of fuckery can come out in the open Erdogan should win the run-off.

Missed this thread and was using the other one, this one more appropriate though. Yes, think its a mixture of the two but his vote held up enough, and should have upper hand in run off