Turkey’s rising dictator, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has prevailed from a military coup — a victory claimed in the name of the very democracy that Erdogan has been systemically disassembling. We have followed the ruin brought to the once fledging democracy of Turkey by Erdogan. His government has arrested the very journalists that he counted on to spread the word of his resistance, including Western reporters like Dutch journalist, Ebru Umar, a well-known atheist and feminist journalist. Umar wrote a piece critical of Erdoğan for the Dutch daily Metro, extracts of which she then tweeted. Her last tweet chillingly said “Police at the door. No joke.” Now, with the support of the United States and opposition parties, Erdogan has cloaked himself as the very personification of freedom and is clearly moving to wipe out any remaining opposition in the military and country with the justification of the coup. While no one should support a military coup, we should not delude ourselves: a dictator has survived and democracy in Turkey will die with his rise.
We have seen the erosion of all civil liberties in Turkey after the election of Erdoğan and his coalition of Islamic parties. This has also included the arrest of Mehmet Emin Altunses, 16, who allegedly committed the crime of “insulting” Erdoğan. calling people who use birth control “traitors” and saying Muslims discovered America, you are not allowed to be disrespectful or insulting in discussing Erdoğan. Then there was the prosecution of model and former Miss Turkey Merve Buyuksarac, 26, for criticizing Erdogan for quoting a few lines from a poem called the “Master’s Poem” from weekly Turkish satirical magazine Uykusuz. Erdoğan’s totalitarian measures have earned him the nickname “Buyuk Usta” (the Big Master). Even a joking reference to Gollum and Erdoğan is enough to land you in jail today in Turkey.
Erdoğan has already used the coup to focus on this nemesis Fethullah Gulen, a cleric living in Pennsylvania and a critic of his autocratic rule. It is likely that the Obama Administration, which has continued its absolute support for Erdogan as he has cracked down on journalists and critics, will be asked to take actions against Gulen, 75. Glen is an imam who went into exile to the United States in 1999 and settled in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. What is clear is that Erdogan is already using the coup attempt to consolidate power and eliminate what few restrictions remained on his power. Indeed, some have suggested that the entire coup was staged or encouraged secretly by Erdogan precisely to serve as his catalyst for a final push toward authoritarian control.
Erdogan was saved largely by mosques calling out the faithful into the streets. Some of those Erdogan supporters reported beheaded an unarmed soldier after he surrendered. Others were shown beating unarmed soldiers as Erdogan political allies called for the “ultimate punishment” of those involved in the coup.
Erdogan, our key ally, has now promised to “cleanse” the military — a threat understood to mean that the secular military will now be filled with his Islamic supporters. In the meantime, the United States will continue to support the man who has destroyed the only true secular democracy in an Arab nation.
Good point. However, one can always hope. BernieorBusters are supporter her – donations up 1000%
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/jul/17/tuscon-arizona-downtown-unesco-city-of-gastronomy-restaurants-regeneration
and the endorsement by Cornel West introduced her to a bigger audience since the MSM ignores her except for Fox. I doubt she’s be on Rachel Maddow’s show anytime soon. =)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/14/barack-obama-us-racism-police-brutality-failed-victims
This election year presents some opportunities for “other party” candidates, given the widespread dislike and distrust of the two major candidates.
The “electoral resume” of Jill Stein is a history of repeated defeats, by huge margins, in her home state in her races for governor and the state legislature.
If she can’t get traction in one of the most liberal states in America, I don’t see her making much of a mark nationally.
“…exaggerating, lying, exciting the ignorant to levels of fear and loathing, mindlessly…” Sounds like HRC to me! Though she does have 0 enthusiasm which even our beloved Bernie cannot change.
If you want a Revolution vote Jill Stein.
Someone was swearing above. Calling our President a dictator in chief is kind of like swearing. It won’t get ya kicked off the blog tho. My take on Erdogan and the coup is that he contrived it. If you happen to be in Turkey then stay home and avoid others. Birds of a feather flock together. Watch out for Mocking Birds.
“Meanwhile, our very own dictator-in-chief incites his true believers to rise up and shut down those challenging his interpretation of the rule-of-law. We’ll have our own coup but it won’t come until our ignorant and apathetic masses recognize that unsettling pain in their gut is actually the loss of their unalienable rights.”
Sounds like what a short Bavarian Corporal would have said some time ago. Or Trump, exaggerating, lying, exciting the ignorant to levels of fear and loathing, mindlessly, yet with exuberance. “Show me your angry, your ignorant, your vacuous and I will combine them into a political force.” Donald Trump
Meanwhile, our very own dictator-in-chief incites his true believers to rise up and shut down those challenging his interpretation of the rule-of-law. We’ll have our own coup but it won’t come until our ignorant and apathetic masses recognize that unsettling pain in their gut is actually the loss of their unalienable rights.
Do not use any cuss words. Do not call someone a Republican if you can help it. Live Free Or Die.
Wher da comment at?
Testing.
@Mitch
I don’t know if I would call Russia an ally, however I don’t see it as a threat to our national security. I think it’s annoying that Obama and HRC seem to want to re-set the Cold War.
I would call Russia more of an ally at this point than Turkey. Saudi Arabia, Israel or most countries we call allies.
It was a False Flag by Erdogan
Completely staged. Notice that the military barely did anything.
Afterwards he removed all his political enemies from power. He staged the entire thing as a power grab. He is a dictator. Hopefully someone takes him out soon.
NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Turkey is not on the N. Atlantic. Russia is really not our worst foe and we need a Nato type organization to go after ISIS and Pedophile Priests. Different strokes for different folks.
Turkey probably needs an Erd and probably a Gan. It is the O which is troubling.
The Gulenists’ campaign contributions to the Clinton Foundation, Hillary’s campaign, and the campaigns of members of Congress is, or should be, of interest.
Could get even more interesting with a Hillary Clinton administration.
Jimmy Dore on foreign policy experience
@mental midget
Re: “. We don’t need NATO. What we need is our own Wall.”
I think that NATO is still needed (albeit downsized) and should not be threatening Russia. Isolationism is not the answer.
@justiceholmes
re: “Why on earth does the US have allies like Turkey and Saudi Arabia? We condemn Assad but we embrace these guys. It’s insanity!”
The US embraces Turkey and SA because they are “our” guys — at least as long as they are useful. As Issac pointed out, we have a long history of propping up the most vile dictators. We have also overthrown elected leaders.
Essentially, because our government supports corporate interests whether it’s oil, the military industrial complex, etc. The powers that be have 0 interest in how these leaders treat their citizens.
IMO, if Americans knew what has been done – and is being done in their name they would be horrified.
Well, somebody ought to put some Turkish music up to read this by. I have posted Gulsen Karalik and Sertap Erener songs before, sooo here is somebody different:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw7jG6UujhQ&index=1&list=RDpw7jG6UujhQ
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Before getting gushy about the failure of the coup in Turkey because the government was elected, remember that Hitler was elected to power as was the current Gaza Strip terror government. Sometimes a coup may be a good thing.
“Make The World Safe for Democracy!
— Woodrow Wilson around 1917
Yes. Democracy in action.
The muddle east needs dictators to quell the rival tribes of muslim extremists.
I urge Americans to stay the heck out of the muddle east. We don’t need Turkey in NATO. We don’t need Lithuania in NATO. We don’t need NATO. What we need is our own Wall.
Don’t vote for Trump. He went in dumb and came out dumb too. He is too tall. Like Too Tall Jones.