BBC has more on this person. LINK
Has GĂĽlen even been indicted? Will Erdogan act increasingly like a dictator?
Simple enough for the US. Does Turkey have evidence – actual evidence – that the vocally pacifist leader of the Gülen movement is implicated in the coup, as opposed to someone Erdogan just doesn’t like? If so, provide it, and off he goes to Turkey via Con Air.
If no, then shut up
Yes.
Looks more and more to me like Erdogan promoted this coup (either overtly or tacitly) so he could justify getting rid of more and more of those who oppose them. Gulen opposes him strongly, but one wonders how an elderly man like him could stage a coup from this far away.
Teh SECRETly muSLIM KenyUN usURPer is PROtecting teh raDICal SLAMic terraist in PENnslyvania so He Can INtroDUCE HItlarry AT the DNC !!!1!!!11!!i!!won!!!1!!!
The outcome of this attempted coup is NOT going to be good for Turkey, the US, or the regional mess in the Middle East.
You now have an increasingly dictatorial but elected leader who was nearly tossed out by a segment of the military, who gets back into power and is feeling very vindictive about those who tried to defeat him. His likely responses are going to create further turmoil within the Turkish military…portions of which are supportive of continuing good relations with the US and other parts of which may be trying to move towards a more Islamic rule.
Erdogan had made enemies in the military by putting significant numbers of them on trial to reduce their long-standing influence over the government (particularly their historic role as a bulwark for a non-sectarian Turkish government) He is deeply distrustful of them as an institution as evidenced by those efforts and clearly a segment of the military sees him as a threat to the nation’s previous non-sectarian and open form of government. Erdogan has fostered that in his early days as head of the nation, but has steadily shifted to a more authoritarian ruler, seeing threats at every turn to the point that he even issued diplomatic threats to Germany for allowing a Turkish comic to appear on German television making fun of him.
Running Turkey is a daunting challenge for anyone who assumes its leadership given the political, religious, economic, diplomatic and military pressures facing the country, but Erdogan is clearly losing his ability to rule without resorting to strongarm tactics. A successful coup MIGHT have resulted in a re-strengthening of ties between Turkey, its military and the US, but a failed one now results in a paranoid leader, restored to power and now ready to wreak vengance against his perceived enemies at home and abroad. Gulen is a handy boogey man, much like the comedian in Germany. This is not a good climate for sound thinking and action and the problems for the US and NATO in this region are likely to get much worse much faster.
The thought of Donald Trump trying to deal with it is about as frightening as it gets when you consider the possible consequences of bluster by a leader who has no clue about the issues or the parties involved.
Erdogan is only 62. And the nature of an authoritarian is to purge potential successors.
By going public with his “demand” for extradition, seems to me he’s either overplaying his hand or not serious. After all, no government likes something demanded of it - because if they grant the request, it makes them appear weak. Thereby making it less likely that the stated goal will be attained.
I don’t see why Erdogan couldn’t have approached the US State Department privately with his concerns, if he was actually serious. The fact that he went public means it’s political - paving the way for a crackdown on his opponents.
I’m beginning to think the same considering how poorly this coup was executed and the fact Erdogan is purging only his known enemies, i.e. the Judiciary.
That’s not even a question.
I think that we should extradite the cleric. For too long, the West has sheltered criminals and terrorists under false pretexts. This is a serious matter involving numerous civilian deaths and unauthorized tank and fighter jet attacks.
I’m starting to agree that Erdogan fomented this “coup.” These Keystone Kop mutineers must have had someone in their group who planted a false flag giving them the idea this would work. Erdogan is conveniently out of town, stokes the nationalist fervor of his supporters, reappears and immediately sweeps up his opposition. To nice and neat for me.
Since you put it that way, President Erdogan, no. We don’t turn over innocent Turkish citizens for a dictator’s political theater.
Especially when you threaten your “partner”.
The U.S. needs to remove all it’s aircraft and personnel from Incrilik air base, for as long as we use it as a base, that certain Turkish demagogue continues to blackmail us. Also, if we go, we need to remove those 60-80 nuclear weapons stored there, so that Islamist Turkey cannot use them for nefarious purposes.
maybe gulen and erdogan should have a chat?
Don’t let Mattinpa hear you say that… he’ll want proof. He’s college educated and researches everything.
The CIA might know whether or not Gülen was involved, but I certainly don’t. The demand for extradition coming directly from Turkey’s president and apparently prior to any judicial proceedings seems strange to me.
I know of many countries that provide safe haven to terrorists and protect them from extradition.
Dubai shelters many wahabbi sunni muslim terrorists and the US and Canada are safe havens for many terrorists and criminals from Asia. I think the Pakisatani government takes the same stand with Osama bin Laden and al Zuwahiri and other al Qaeda terrorists.
We cannot expect other countries to extradite criminals and terrorists we want if we impose unreasonable burdens on them. It is a two-way street.