Death of The Turkish Republic

Submitted by emmett (United States), Aug 5, 2013 at 18:52

August 4, 2013

Subject: Death of the Turkish Republic

The Turkish constitution designates the military as "guarantor" of the secular nature of Turkey.

Prime Minister Erdogan is quoted as saying, "Democracy is like a trolley. When you no longer need it, you get off."

The severe sentences handed out to military, judicial and journalists in the Ergenekon affair , shows that Ataturk's vision of a secular Turkey is dead!

Not only has Erdogan left the trolley, he has destroyed it so nobody can ride it.

Turkey has gone from a reliable, trustworthy, Nato ally to an unreliable, untrustworthy adversary in ten years. ( Recall that Turkey refused "overflights" to American troops in the Iraq war.)

Ten years ago, the population liked Americans, had good relations with Israel, (Turkey was the favorite tourist attraction for Israelis), and treated their ethnic minorities (Armenians, Greeks, Jews ) as fellow Turks. Presently, according to polls, there is widespread dislike of America, Greece and Israel.

This Turkey proudly hosts meetings of Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood officials.

In fact, just today Erdogan was turned down by Egyptian authorities from entering Gaza via Egypt.

The Turkish people are not like the Egyptians who were able to "riot" the government into administration change. The Gezi park demonstrations are an example of the extent and strength of the opposition.

The world must prepare for another Islamist country.

More stable than Pakistan but just as dangerous. (except for nuclear weapons).

More subtle than Iran but just as deceptive.

More powerful than the Taliban and just as determined to destroy the American/European world order.

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