Cyprus-Forum.com

[Tim Drayton]

Members of Turkey's public workers union have come out in a one day strike in protest against corruption. Interesting. The big failure of the Gezi protests is that they were unable to strike a chord with the labour movement.

http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/memur ... ti-1167036

[Tim Drayton]

Four ministers implicated in the corruption scandal, Interior Minister Muammer Güler, Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, European Union Minister Egemen Bağışand Environment and Urbanisation Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar are reported to have expressed their willingness to resign to Prime-Minister Erdoğan.

http://www.radikal.com.tr/politika/ve_b ... du-1166984

[Flying Horse]

The leader of the opposition in Turkey, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, is reported to have had lunch today with the US ambassador to Turkey:

http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/kilic ... tu-1167015

The plot thickens especially for those of use who view Fethullah Gülen as essentially being an agent of US neo-imperialism).

Isn't that the obvious though?
Being that Gullen will be put in to succeed Erdogan?

It won't be the first time the US have played a hand in changing the leader of a middle Eastern country to suit themselves.

Before I go further on that I shall go off and remember those 'facts' as my conspiracy memory isn't that great( well actually its not great full stop!) Iran rings a bell...

[Tim Drayton]

No, Gülen is firmly ensconced in his farmhouse in Pennsylvania as the leader of a religious sect - the fact that two senior CIA people gave references to support his application for a green card speaks volumes (as does the fact that America refused to extradite him to Turkey at a time when he was wanted there for treason). He will not take over.

I think we are witnessing the start of Turkey's next coup, though, and it looks like being another post-modern one. In my view, all of the previous coups in Turkey have taken place at the very least with the passive support of the USA, and I think there is no difference here.

After Sisi staged his coup in Egypt to remove the Islamic Brotherhood from power (and it is also telling that Sisi has become this year's Time man of the year!), it became clear that America has decided to liquidate this organisation now that it has outlived its usefulness to them, and I began to wonder about Erdoğan's future, given his close ties to the brotherhood. I somehow could not see the military being brought in to remove him, though, and I would never have dreamed that they would use Gülen instead. That's the way the cookie has crumbled.

PS - Just by coincidence!, the leader of the opposition, Kılıçdaroğlu, recently paid a visit to the USA during which he met people from Gülen's organisation as well as American officials. Today, he lunched with the US ambassador. I think these are significant pointers. If he is expected to take over, I am sure the deal will be the same as with Erdoğan - he will have plenty of latitude in domestic affairs as long as he does what Uncle Sam wants on the international arena. If he upsets the Americans, he will be out.

Don't forget that President Gül is a faithful Gülen man.

Just my take on things.

[Kikapu]

Don't forget that President Gül is a faithful Gülen man.

As well as an EU man, more on Democracy and Human Rights, more on statesmanship and so on. I don't know how he ever ended up in bed with Erdogan? Then again, Erdogan has changed his colours a lot from his earlier days in power. It is true, that absolute power corrupts......absolutely, which is what has happened to Erdogan. It is time to "retire" him, one way or the other!

[bill cobbett]

Yep... President Gul is the man probably smiling at all these goings on.

... and a CY angle... who do we prefer...???

Gasman Erdy with his bellicose support for such as the Moslem Brotherhood and Hamas, for his destruction of Turkey-Israel relations or do we prefer the western and EU leaning Gul who will be far more serious about EU Accession and who will patch-up relations with Israel...???

Tricky one, eh boys and girls...???

[Tim Drayton]

Don't forget that President Gül is a faithful Gülen man.

As well as an EU man, more on Democracy and Human Rights, more on statesmanship and so on. I don't know how he ever ended up in bed with Erdogan? Then again, Erdogan has changed his colours a lot from his earlier days in power. It is true, that absolute power corrupts......absolutely, which is what has happened to Erdogan. It is time to "retire" him, one way or the other!

Suit yourself. I do not trust the "Cemaat" and anybody who is aligned with them.

[Tim Drayton]

Fourteen more senior police chiefs have been removed from their posts. The AKP is now trying weed as many Gülenists as they can out of the police force, but it is probably too late.

http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/2075 ... daha_.html

[Jerry]

No, Gülen is firmly ensconced in his farmhouse in Pennsylvania as the leader of a religious sect - the fact that two senior CIA people gave references to support his application for a green card speaks volumes (as does the fact that America refused to extradite him to Turkey at a time when he was wanted there for treason). He will not take over.

I think we are witnessing the start of Turkey's next coup, though, and it looks like being another post-modern one. In my view, all of the previous coups in Turkey have taken place at the very least with the passive support of the USA, and I think there is no difference here.

After Sisi staged his coup in Egypt to remove the Islamic Brotherhood from power (and it is also telling that Sisi has become this year's Time man of the year!), it became clear that America has decided to liquidate this organisation now that it has outlived its usefulness to them, and I began to wonder about Erdoğan's future, given his close ties to the brotherhood. I somehow could not see the military being brought in to remove him, though, and I would never have dreamed that they would use Gülen instead. That's the way the cookie has crumbled.

PS - Just by coincidence!, the leader of the opposition, Kılıçdaroğlu, recently paid a visit to the USA during which he met people from Gülen's organisation as well as American officials. Today, he lunched with the US ambassador. I think these are significant pointers. If he is expected to take over, I am sure the deal will be the same as with Erdoğan - he will have plenty of latitude in domestic affairs as long as he does what Uncle Sam wants on the international arena. If he upsets the Americans, he will be out.

Don't forget that President Gül is a faithful Gülen man.

Just my take on things.

Tim, in your opinion how would regime change in Turkey affect resolution of the Cyprus problem? Would Gulen loosen Turkey's grip on the island or will he build more mosques?

[Tim Drayton]

Left-wing journalist Ahmet Şık, author of a banned book about the infiltration of the Turkish police force by Fettullah Gülen’s organisation in the 1980’s, has made the following brief analysis of the latest events in a number of Tweets:

1-There is no return now in this all-out war. This is a war that will continue until one of the sides is destroyed.

2-It is a mistake to see the liquidations in the police force as the AKP’s retaliation. This is simply to circumvent further potential attacks.

3-It is certain that policeman, members of the juidicary and persons having visibility in the “civilian” sphere who are known to be Gülenists will be targeted in the gang trial revolving around Gülen’s organisation.

4-Was the corruption operation launched to circumvent this gang trial that has been under preparation for some time?

5-Or, did Gülen’s organisation press the button so as to engage public opinion with the defence that they have been targeted because they investigated theft?

6-Whatever the AKP does, it is now too late. There is thus only one thing that can be said about what has transpired so far: This is just the beginning.

7-The main move is coming. The allegations will not remain confined to four ministers. Talk has even started of further ministers being in line.

8-Everyone should hold their breath and wait for what is dragged out concerning Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (RTE) or his close family members.

9-Who is caught up among the things that will be dragged out with reference to Erdoğan Bayraktar, about whom so far no serious allegation has been made?

10-We will all together see the extent to which fresh corruption allegations involve RTE or his kids. What will RTE, his ministers resigning, do?

11-There are many questions; manipulations make it hard to give the right answer. We need to stay calm and wait for the muddy waters to settle.

12- Taking delight in the dog fight It is understandable, but it is important not to employ a language that implies participation in the murderous campaigns that have been launched against the media.

13-Those who have been robbed of their freedom were banged up after the impression of guilt was created using leaked phone calls or photographs. Let us not forget this. .

14-Yes, the AKP has set up a regime of theft and corruption. But those Gülenists who appear to be investigating these crimes are also old gang partners.They are the counterguerilla.

15-The cause of the ugly divorce ending the forced marriage was all about who was to head the family. Now they are unable to share out the property (state power).

16-The best result for us will be for both sides to be abruptly destroyed or for both of these partners in crime to have their wings abruptly clipped.

17-The street must be organised to demand a coalition with neither the AKP nor the Gülenists nor both dirty outfits. Democracy will be served by saying “AKP, take Gülen’s organisation and go.”

http://birgun.net/haber/ahmet-sik-bu-sa ... -8580.html