Coup d'etat in Turkey

[prisonermonkeys]

This is a giant mess the US did not see coming.

A lot of it hinges on internal politics and the complex relationship between the government and the military. It's easy to look back and say "well, we should have seen that coming", but everyone got caught unawares. And Turkey has a long and chequered history or rumoured coups and counter-coups and counter-counter-coup-coups. It's hard to tell what's legitimate and what's political chicanery.

 

[Touring Mars]

Somebody else's fox is loose in our hen house.

Hen house, or turkey coup?

Pretty alarming state of affairs, and the ramifications could be massive...

 

[Nico_Ble99]

Just to pop that in. This Erdogan bloke has seemed to reach the Turkish youth in Germany. Just wrote in a WhatsApp group of my former class (16 years old) and we're discussing everything, until the Turkish class members interrupted and said "The media is talking bs and everything is fine in Turkey and the soldiers are not real soldiers." Let that sink in.

 

[samurai8juice]

Sky News Live on YouTube has some coverage; saw a few minutes ago that there were shots fired, the crowd ducked, stood up, than boo'd at the military.

 

[Vegard]

This is a giant mess the US did not see coming.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

 

[Rage Racer]

No idea if true or not.

 

[Dotini]

Just to pop that in. This Erdogan bloke has seemed to reach the Turkish youth in Germany. Just wrote in a WhatsApp group of my former class (16 years old) and we're discussing everything, until the Turkish class members interrupted and said "The media is talking bs and everything is fine in Turkey and the soldiers are not real soldiers." Let that sink in.

The coup has seized the state TV and media, but crucially not the social media.

 

[Dennisch]

Dutch television is apparently very slow.

Just now they are reporting the news about the shooting at the bridge.

 

[PzR Slim]

Impossible to tell who the crowds on the street support. Suspect there are groups for both sides. This is going to get extremely nasty.

 

[samurai8juice]

The coup has seized the state TV and media, but crucially not the social media.

Would they be able to pull the plug on Turkish internet, TV, etc...?

 

[Dennisch]

Impossible to tell who the crowds on the street support. Suspect there are groups for both sides. This is going to get extremely nasty.

This turmoil is creating a perfect situation for those who want to blow themselves up amongst crowds.

 

[PzR Slim]

Reuters reports fighter jet has shot down a helicopter used by the coup plotters. Holy sheet man this is bad.

 

[Carbonox]

If that's true why would Germany turn him away? Aren't NATO states supposed to stick together?

He's just reaping what he's sowed. Shouldn't have pissed off the Germans with his huge anti-freedom of speech lawsuit/rant earlier this year.

 

[catamount39]

Reuters reports fighter jet has shot down a helicopter used by the coup plotters. Holy sheet man this is bad.

But I thought the military was behind the coup?

 

[PzR Slim]

Pictures on Sky news showing civilians jumping on tanks and berating soldiers in the tanks.

 

[PzR Slim]

But I thought the military was behind the coup?

Not a full military coup. Only sections of military involved. Some still loyal to Erdogan.

 

[Dotini]

But I thought the military was behind the coup?

Probably only a faction of the military mounted the coup. Doom and disaster for the coup?

 

[Dennisch]

Report of 17 dead cops just now.

 

[samurai8juice]

Reuters reports fighter jet has shot down a helicopter used by the coup plotters. Holy sheet man this is bad.

Has the US scrambled the jets from Incirlik, maybe?

 

[Sanji Himura]

BBC is reporting on TV that most of the troops that are loyal to the dictator are fighting the Kurds in Southern Turkey. If they get back to Istanbul, we could have the beginnings of a civil war.

EDIT: BBC is also reporting that the coup participants have taken some senior military officials hostage. No word on exactly who is the hostages.

 

[PzR Slim]

BBC news again showing shootings on the bridge. Definite casualties.

 

[PzR Slim]

Has the US scrambled the jets from Incirlik, maybe?

No way the US are getting involved in this.

 

[crooky369]

Has the US scrambled the jets from Incirlik, maybe?

Doubt it. Would be mad to get involved at this stage.

 

[Robin]

Would they be able to pull the plug on Turkish internet, TV, etc...?

According to BBC news there has been some restrictions on social media sites placed on Turkey's internet supply. It's actually really easy for a country to block websites on a state level.

 

[Rage Racer]

An idea who may be behind this.

 

[samurai8juice]

No way the US are getting involved in this.

"
I dunno...there's always a possibility we get involved.

 

[JKgo]

....Well, things seem to be degenerating into a stinky mess real quick. Can't see a nice, easy end to this. All I can hope for, is that the Turks caught in-between can stay safe.

If the coup succeeds, then there will be a likely civil war, what with Erdogan not in custody and the forces loyal to him still in the wind. If the coup falls through, then Mr. Goatlover can declare whatever he wants and throw the country even further into the Stone Age.

Basically, either way it's screwed up royally.

 

[PzR Slim]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: White House: Pres. Obama, Sec. Kerry agree that all parties in Turkey should support democratically-elected government of Turkey.</p>&mdash; NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) <a href="">July 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I dunno...there's always a possibility we get involved.

I think you will definitely apply diplomatic pressure but would be amazed if you get involved militarily.

 

[Dennisch]

Duuuuude. They just showed a helicopter shooting into a crowd.

 

[Michael88]

At this point I think a civil war is not unlikely. Which would be really messy, Turkey has a pretty big arsenal and good equipment.Ukraine 2.0?

Duuuuude. They just showed a helicopter shooting into a crowd.

Are you sure they didn't shoot near them to make them move?

 

[PzR Slim]

According to BBC news there has been some restrictions on social media sites placed on Turkey's internet supply. It's actually really easy for a country to block websites on a state level.

Yeah, Twitter and Facebook down but very easy for those savvy enough to get round that.