The sprawling, chaotic, all-consuming “Ergenekon” investigation into the activities of Turkey’s so-called derin devlet (“deep state”) shows no sign of abating. Indeed, its tentacles are spreading ever further as it moves from enveloping its politicians and public to polarising the state’s core institutions.
The reverberations of a seemingly permanent yet ever-elusive political scandal have reached a decisive stage at the highest level of official politics. Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and head of the ruling Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (Justice & Development Party /AKP) intends to bring a thirteen-part constitutional-reform package to parliament by the end of March 2010. Its passage would enable oversight of the party’s key institutional adversary, the Hakimler ve Savcılar Yüksek Kurulu (supreme board of judges and prosecutors / HSYK). But Ergenekon’s corrosive effect is equally evident in the longer-term divisions it is fomenting within Turkey’s military and judiciary, which the latest developments in the affair are sharpening (see Soner Cagaptay, “What's Really Behind Turkey's Coup Arrests?”, Foreign Policy, 25 February 2010).
A conflict of shadows
The frenzy surrounding Ergenekon has begun to focus primarily on one of the overarching conspiracy’s many sub-plots: namely, the extraordinary 5,000-page Balyoz (Sledgehammer) plan. This was revealed in January 2010 by the Turkish journal Taraf, the leakers’ outlet of choice. The plan - approved by the military elite in 2003, following the AKP’s election victory of November 2002 - was modelled on the orchestrated disruption that preceded the “generals’ coup” of 12 September 1980. Its aim seems to have been to generate an atmosphere of crisis in Turkey in order to prepare the ground for a military takeover (see Gareth Jenkins, Between Fact and Fantasy: Turkey's Ergenekon Investigation [Silk Road Studies, August 2009]).
The Balyoz plan’s detail mixes the fantastical and the deeply serious. It envisaged the bombing of Istanbul mosques during Friday prayers; the deliberate shooting down of a Turkish warplane over the Aegean to provoke a crisis with Greece; names of friendly and hostile journalists; and lists of bureaucrats, ambassadors, and regional governors to be targeted for arrest.
The military elite insists that the plan is no more than a war-game scenario; its voluminous documentation was dismissed by the chief-of-staff Ilker Basbug as amounting to a “piece of paper”. This stance ran into trouble over a single scrawl on one such piece. The signature of an army colonel, Dursun Cicek, was found on a document (published by Taraf in June 2009) outlining ways to discredit the AKP and the Fethullah Gülen movement; Basbug said that the signature was forged, though civilian forensic and police agencies declared it authentic - a finding now acknowledged by an internal military investigation.
This incident is emblematic of how each story-line in the wider Ergenekon chain of disclosures tends to unfold in a way that intensifies the pressure on the Turkish military. For example, the signature of a retired general, Cetin Dogan, is now also alleged to appear in the Balyoz archive. Dogan was charged on 26 February 2010 as part of the Balyoz investigation - along with the former special-forces commander Engin Alan, the most senior of around fifty active and retired officers detained in the most recent round-up (see Gareth H Jenkins, “Defense against documents: the Turkish military’s rearguard action”, Turkish Analyst, 23 November 2009).
Dogan suggests that the former chief-of-staff General Hilmi Özkök should confess what he knows about the affair; Özkök in turn claims to have had no knowledge of Balyoz, and insists the then land-commander General Aytac Yalman should take responsibility; Yalman agrees, but refuses to speak until given permission from the current chief-of-staff Ilker Basbug. The unsettled Basbug seems more concerned with identifying whistleblowers from within the ranks than with assisting the investigation, and is increasingly shrill in his warnings about the morale of the armed forces (see “Başbuğ: 'A demoralized military is a national problem'”, Hürriyet Daily News, 11 February 2010).
A landscape of plots
The agitation surrounding the Balyoz plot has to fight for space in Turkey’s media with the equally convoluted Kafes (Cage) “operation action-plan”. This subterranean project was exposed in April 2009 after the discovery in Istanbul’s Poyrazköy district of an illegal arms-cache provoked a police-raid on the home of a retired Turkish army major.
The Kafes plan, allegedly (that word again) conceived within the navy command, compounds the multifariousness of Ergenekon and the scale of Balyoz with an ambition all of its own. Its bizarre features include an operation to assassinate non-Muslims (along the lines of the killing of the Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in January 2007) in the hope that international and domestic blame would attach to the AKP government; the use of prostitutes to blackmail unreliable senior naval officers; and the concealment of explosives inside a submarine exhibited at Istanbul’s Rahmi M Koc museum supposedly intended for detonation during a visit of schoolchildren. In the latter case, the police’s retrieval of the explosives in July 2009 was followed by an internal military investigation which concluded that a navy unit had been tasked to remove them - and “forgot” to do so.
The Kafes and Balyoz controversies have overshadowed even the arrest of two special-forces command-officers in December 2009; they were detained outside the home of deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc on suspicion of plotting his assassination. The investigation into this incident led to the military making an unprecedented concession: that a civilian judge could conduct a thorough search of a super-sensitive military facility: in this case the special-warfare department’s Ankara headquarters, known as the “cosmic room”. The judge concerned received death-threats; if that was predictable, the arrest of seven military officers who had been tailing him was - even by Turkey’s “new” standards - more startling (see Steven A Cook, “The Weakening of Turkey's Military” [Council on Foreign Relations, 1 March 2010]).
The army for its part continues to dismiss officers suspected of Islamist sentiment, if so far none alleged to have been involved in Ergenekon-related activities (though in February 2010 a military tribunal did give a four-year prison sentence to a lieutenant-colonel who had kept at home weapons belonging to the armed forces). More typical of its attitude is that on 3 March 2010, the third army chief General Saldiray Berk - who has to date refused to appear before a court for questioning over his supposed political plotting - led the military’s biannual, high-profile military exercises. The event - “Sarikamis 2010 Winter”, referring to its location in the eastern province of Kars - was, somewhat unusually, not graced with the presence of any representatives of the Turkish government.
Turkey’s fracture-zone
The avalanche of revelations associated with the Ergenekon investigation carries several “unknown unknowns” in its thunderous train. A major one is the impact it might be having on Turkish public opinion, which is traditionally well-disposed towards the armed forces. An effect of the long crisis has been to strip the military (for the time being at least) of its untouchability, as the detailed exposure of its disruptive plans alternates with embarrassing personal dramas (such as the dispute between teams of doctors as to whether three indicted retired generals - Levent Ersöz, Sener Eruygur and Hursit Tolon - are fit enough to stand trial).
In these circumstances the tensions between Turkey’s military, judiciary and political leaders are becoming acute. They were on display when on 4 February 2010 the Ankara government rescinded the longstanding protocol (Emasya) granting the military the right to assume responsibility for public order in the event of a breakdown (see Omer Taspinar, “Turkey’s Difficult Democratization”, Brookings, 15 February 2010); and again after the chief prosecutor of Erzurum in eastern Turkey ordered the arrest of his Erzincan counterpart Ilhan Cihaner on 17 February for Ergenekon-related activities - and was himself dismissed almost immediately by the judges’ supreme board (HSYK).
The latter is far more than a local affair. The moderate-Islamist AKP government regards the HSYK as a bastion of the secularist-Ataturkist order, and suspects it of being the agent of a concerted attempt to undermine the Ergenekon prosecutors. This underlines the significance of the government’s presentation of its constitutional-reform proposals to the Ankara parliament; these include measures (first outlined in 2007) to restructure the HSYK in conformity with the process of accession to the European Union. In turn the HSYK is conducting an enquiry into whether the government might be culpable of illegitimate pressure on the judiciary - and if the answer is “yes”, the AKP could share the fate of its Refah Partisi (Welfare Party) predecessor in 1998 and find itself closed down by the constitutional court.
Turkey’s lawyers and politicians are in dispute too about the ramifications of a constitutional-court ruling of January 2010, again part of the requirement to make Turkey’s legal order compatible with the European Union’s acquis communautaire. The ruling overturns a law passed in July 2009 which had given civilian courts the right to try military officers for non-military crimes. This outcome alone has the capacity to tip the entire Ergenekon investigation into an even deeper abyss.
Turkey is surpassing itself in its capacity for the absurd - and soon also, perhaps, in its capacity for the tragic.
Comments
All very fascinating - but who or what is Ergenekon? Nothing in your article tells me.
The name of author (Bill Park)should be a pseudonym. His comment sounds like comment of a yandas (advocate of fascist-islamist AKP government) for he presents claims and lies of AKP medias (2/3 of all turkish media) as if they are true. Turkish army takes place in the hierarchy of NATO. We exprienced 4 military coups in Turkey (1960; 1971;1980; 1997). All of them were encouraged and backed by the NATO. There have been three major goals and results of the all four coups : oppresion of the leftists (from social democrats to the communists); re-islamization of society and monopolization of capital. The coups also refer to a new form integration with western metropoles. Turkish state transformed into a buffer- vassal state during the cold war period. Since then under guiding of Eisenhower Doctrine, the state and its army have been organizing and legitimizing their operations through concept of ic düsman (internal enemy) which refers to the left in its various colors. During this entire period, the islamists were used, mostly as paramilitary groups, against the left and caused lots of killings. "Green versus Red" was almost official slogan of the state in 1980s. when cold war was over, American hegemony, for sake of its so-called "new world order" project, imposed a "new" role for Turkey to adapt the requirements of its new plans in the Middle East which started with Gulf War. No doubts lots of figures in turkish civilian and military bureaucracy have been in tendency to refuse or at least to interrogate loudly that new role or mission which is envisaged for so-called "new" Turkey by american power. Now ruling AKP and military bureaucray together implements this imposed program. Many leading figures of AKP and of its semi-organic religious order, which is called Fetullah Gulen Cemaati (islamist version of Opus Dei) originally come from anti-communist and para-military organizations of turkish state against the left in 1960s. Fetullah Gulen after Gulf War had been interviewed by journalist Nevval Sevindi and he was proud of working for the CIA. During administration of AKP government, there is no any intterogation against the coups. All military figures who arrested throughout Ergenekon trial represent oppositional positions against american plans and AKP's implements. No any coup leader or member of former juntas under interrogations until today. AKP has strong tendency to continue and develop the legitimacy of September the 12th military administration with regarding to dominate executive power of government over the legislature and the judiciary . During the constitutional debates, AKP and its "liberal-democratic" allies ("the turncoats") have never mentioned to remove the famous Article 15 of the present constitution which gives legal immunity to the responsible figures of coup of the 12th September 1980. On the other hand, some leading fgures of the last "postmodern" coup of 1997 against anti-american, nationalist and islamist prime minister Erbakan's goverment, are employed in executive positions in companies of the nouveau riche tycoons of AKP administration. Many leftists lost their lives before and during military coups, and many others were tortured and put in jails after the Gladio operations of turkish state and NATO for they were "internal enemies". Ergenekon interrogations and trial are used by government, first of all, as a mechanism of psychological repression of the opposition. Politically and legally Turkey evolves towards one party dictatorship. With alternating arrestings of intellectuals, journalists, officers, politicians, professors, Turkey appears as a sort of concentration camp. An exagerrated mccarthyism undermines possibilities of free press and free university. To my historical knowledge Turkey seems increasingly as a kind of Weimar republic in its last phase right before rising of Arturo Ui.
In much more simplistic terms, USA foreign policy makers decided to change horses in Turkey. Cold war is over and the nationalistic generals and their benefactors are no longer needed. Lite Islamisists, AKP, are good role models for Middle East and other Islamic countries. New leaders and their spritual leader Fetullah Gulen are good boys for USA interest on many levels. Thus, kill the old horses and feed the lite Islamic ones.
One has to consider new Middle East Plans and the articulation of Turkey to the European markets. AKP represents the most suitable ideological plaform for the neccessary transformation in Turkish state ideology, which refused to cooparate with USA in Iraq war and resisted to the pro Israil and pro Kurdish,western solutions to the Middle East conflict.
Clearly, western interest in Turkey has shifted from secular, nationalist ruling classes to emerging Lite Islamisist ideolgy with close ties to global markets. Thus it is time to change horses in Turkey. It is very little with democratization in any sense. The methods used in the pocess of elmination is much more sinister than the so called "danger".
Whoever "wins" here will still have the hoary, despotic, ultra-authoritarian " I win, you lose ! " Middle Eastern mindset. The Republic of Turkey will continue to suffer either way. How sad...
A new version of my commet is below:
Mr Bill Park's article sounds like arguments of a yandas (advocate of islamo-facist AKP government) for he presents claims and lies of AKP medias (2/3 of all turkish media) as if they are true. Turkish army takes place in the hierarchy of NATO since 1950. We exprienced four military coups in Turkey (1960; 1971;1980; 1997). All of them were encouraged and backed by the NATO and its Gladio. There have been three major goals and results of the all four coups : oppresion of the leftists (from social democrats to the communists); re-islamization of society and monopolization of capital. The coups also refer to a new form integration with western metropoles. Turkish state was transformed into a buffer- vassal state during the cold war period. Since then under guiding of Eisenhower Doctrine, the state and its army have been organizing and legitimizing their operations through concept of ic düsman (internal enemy) which refers to the left in its various colors. During this entire period, the islamists and Turkist-islamists were used, mostly as paramilitary groups, against the left and caused lots of killings. "Green versus Red" was almost overtly official policy right after the coup of 1980 in convenience with american strategies during Reagan administration. When cold war was over, American hegemony, for sake of its so-called "new world order" project, imposed a "new" role for Turkey to adapt the requirements of new plans of american hegemony in the Middle East which started with Gulf War. No doubts lots of figures in turkish civilian and military bureaucracy have been in tendency to refuse or at least to interrogate loudly that new role or mission which is envisaged for so-called "new" Turkey by american power. Now ruling AKP and military bureaucray together implement this imposed program. Many leading figures of AKP and of its semi-organic religious order, which is called Fetullah Gulen Cemaati (islamist version of Opus Dei) originally come from anti-communist and para-military organizations of turkish state which were organized against the left originally in early1960s. Fetullah Gulen, founder of F.Gulen order, after Gulf War had been interviewed by journalist Nevval Sevindi and he was proud of working for the CIA during Gulf war. Almost for 12 years he has been living in New Jersey in the US where he directs his organization. Recently family of assasinated armenian journalist Hırant Dink demanded from the prosecutors to investigate links of F.Gulen order with Dink murder. Ergenekon operations had started almost automatically right after this murder. Murder of Dink started a process in Turkey which has parallel connotations with September 11th in the US. During administration of AKP government, there is no any intterogation against the realized coups but "poosible" coups. All military figures who arrested throughout Ergenekon trial represent oppositional positions against american plans and AKP's implements. Many so-called proof and documents, and "secret" witnesses which are first fabricated and circulated by the medias which are controlled by AKP government and F.Gulen organization then they are made "legitimate support" for current witch hunting in Turkey by AKP's prosecutors (The judiary is not independent in Turkey;judges and prosecutors are appointed by government). No any coup leader or member of former juntas under interrogations until today. AKP has strong tendency to continue and develop the legitimacy of September the 12th military administration with regarding to dominate executive power of government over the legislature and the judiciary . During the constitutional debates, AKP and its "liberal-democratic" allies ("the turncoats") have never mentioned to remove the famous Article 15 of the present constitution which gives legal immunity to the responsible figures of coup of the 12th September 1980. On the other hand, some leading fgures of the last "postmodern" coup of 1997 against anti-american, nationalist and islamist prime minister Erbakan's goverment, are employed in executive positions in companies of the nouveau riche tycoons of AKP administration. Many leftists lost their lives before and during military coups, and many others were tortured and put in jails after the Gladio operations of turkish state and NATO for they were "internal enemies". Ergenekon interrogations and trial are used by government, first of all, as a mechanism of psychological repression of the opposition. Politically and legally Turkey evolves towards one party dictatorship. With alternating arrestings of intellectuals, journalists, officers, politicians, professors, Turkey appears as a sort of concentration camp. An exagerrated mccarthyism undermines possibilities of free press and free university. To my historical knowledge Turkey seems increasingly as a kind of Weimar republic in its last phase right before rising of Arturo Ui.
Dear Kamil Park,
Although I agree with the general framework that you put, my disagreements are as follows:
1. I don't think that the article sides with the AKP government. It's as factual as it could get with the current environment of polarisation.
2. It was not the Islamists, but the far-right, ultra-nationalists that were used against the Turkish left. It has to be noted, though, the Islamists acted hand in hand with the nationalists in early 60's.
3. It's very interesting to observe that Turkey is a small-scale mirror of American nightmare: as the US created Taliban and Al Qaida in order to fight the Soviets, the Turkish Army paved the way for the Islamists -very same timing- by introducing religious overtunes into the public domain after the coup in 1980. It's ironic to observe that, while the US is fighting against its two monsters, the Turkish Army is trying to do the same, but failing, falling down, to pieces.
4. There is no organic link between AKP and the Gulen movement. The Gulen movement invested in centre-right, somehow secular parties until AKP emerged. AKP leaders tried to distance themselves from the movement, until the recent arrest of the Erzincan Prosecutor and the intervention of the High Board of Judges to strip the arresting Erzurum Prosecutor from its authorities. Now they act much closer to each other, still, it's a far call that they are directly connected to each other.
5. Could you show me a source that Dink family's lawyers asked for the investigation of the link of the Gulen movement? I think everyone knows that the Turkish Army and police members and ex-members were involved in the murder of Dink, but Gulen community involvement? We all remember Veli Kucuk, an ex-general was 'visiting' the court room with his fascist thugs when Dink was being tried because of his anti-establishment remarks.
All in all, I agree with you it is a power fight between the Turkish Army and the monster they created.
“Democracy is as a streetcar: you ride it until you arrive at your destination, then you step off...” R. T. Erdogan,
„Will Turkey Make It?”by Stephen Kinzer, New York Review of Books, Vol. 51, # 12, July 15 2004
I also demand some evidence from Mr. Kamil Park for Dink Family's lawyers asking for such investigation. Mr. Kamil Park is skeptical when it comes to many issues, but obvious his mind set for Gulen and his group. Gulen's working for CIA should be news to the CIA. Gulen's lack of anti-Americanism or his residence (his exile is due to military's pressure) are not evidences for his support for CIA. Am I working for the CIA when I speak against Saddam Hussein? What is the evidence of CIA-Gulen? Graham Fuller's writings? or Aydinlik Magazine in Turkey?
If there is a comparison with the Weimar Republic, it should this: middle and upper classes as well as the state establishment, the military and nationalists end up supporting Nazis because of their irrational fear of socialists. When I look at Turkish politics, I see the middle, upper classes, the state establishment, the military, and ultra-nationalists are on one side and AKP on the other. Scare me with AKP to make me to accept military's de facto rule in Turkey since 1960. No, thank you! AKP came with elections and will go with elections.
Sezai
What Kamil Park writes:
""We exprienced four military coups in Turkey (1960; 1971;1980; 1997). All of them were encouraged and backed by the NATO and its Gladio. There have been three major goals and results of the all four coups : oppresion of the leftists (from social democrats to the communists); re-islamization of society and monopolization of capital:""
is wrong. The 1960 coup targeted the center-right Justice Party of Adnan Menderes, in part accusing him giving concessions to conservative groups. The military junta hanged Menderes and some other party members. 1960 coup was supported by leftists during that period and has still been perceived a "progressive" coup and junta by many in the leftist-secularists camp.
The claim that the 1997 coup targeted socialists and supported Islamists is also absurd. It was carried out against Islamist Welfare Party, caused the party banned from politics, caused the current PM Erdogan to be put in jail, and caused F. Gulen to live in exile. Please, a little bit more intellectual honesty.
One does not need to resort to half-truths, gross-omissions, and over-generalizations to criticize Justice and Development Party and F. Gulen.
Sezai
Dear Park the name of Menderes' party was Demokrat Parti.
That's my mistake Dertli. Thank you for the correction.
Dear Slanderer,
1.Show us the direct link between the Turkish Army's involvement in the murder of Dink.
2.Where are the prosecutors and judges who have educated in the Gulen's Schools?Can you swear over God they have protected and preserved our Constitution inspired by the Kemalist Revolution?
3.Where are the bigots and the people sharing the same radical view who burnt over 40 innocent people in Sivas now, what are they doing now?
4.Where is Prosecutor Ferhat, why was he fired unanimously?Can you swear that there are no Ferhats in Turkey's Judicial Branch?
5.Can you swear over God that there is no communications between Tayyip and Gulen?Do you think that even kids playing on the street believe in this proposition?
6.I strongly recommend you and Gulen's supporters wake up the dream. Although all internal and global conditions have been in favor of you, there is no tangible outcome in your hands, and there will never be.
7.I don't recommend you to continue to test the margins of the army.If the Army maintains its dignity it is not due to a fear of a few Cops, Judges and Prosecutors serving to Gulen Community. One blow could be sufficient to deport all of you to Utah. The Army does not react the third class plots for the sake of the EU Memberhip.
8.All claims about the Army are aspersion. The incidents having gone on in Turkey are the continuation of the story of the Malta exiles. As known all detainees returned from Malta as heroes, Damat Ferit escaped from Turkey as a traitor. Same history will eventually be repeated soon. For that reason your primary school graduated Prayer can not dare to return to Turkey. He remain there until he dies as a deported man!
Dear Burcin,
You do not answer my questions (directed to Mr. Kamil Park) and rather carry an ad hominem.
You have nothing but your speculations. I do not need to prove anything, let alone the “absence” of something. For example, I cannot prove the absence of relationship between former “Erzurum Prosecutor” and F. Gulen, the Prosecutor was acting on behalf this group, or getting orders from F. Gulen. If that’s your claim, it is your case is to prove that. If you do not have any evidence for that (that’s what I conclude from your response), you have only your conspiracy. Your conspiracy theories can calm your mind and clear your confusion, but would not be enough to convince me.
Your logic seems like this: an “ulusalci” is proven innocent until proven guilty, and an anti-ulusalci is guilty until proven innocent. That logic is ordinarily called hypocrisy.
I am sorry but I do not accept your argument that even the children in the street believe Gulen group is behind all these. I just talked to my 10-year-old niece. She disagrees with you as well.
Just to remind you some folks were exiled Malta involved with what today we would call “crimes against humanity” (Well, the Armenian genocide to be specific as well as some bad treatment to the British POW). May be the early Kemalist regime protected these criminals. But these criminals would not find a place go now. I hope the coup-lovers of Turkish military face that destiny.
I do not have much to say against your assertion that “all claims about Army as aspersions.” I wish I were that naïve about the Turkish army. My rudimentary knowledge about Turkish army and the crimes they committed (coups, tortures, extra-judicial killings) make me a little more skeptical.
Sezai
Dear hired polemicist,
1.Where is dismissed Prosecutor Ferhat?He should have a good prize as successfully served the community hired him, by opening a path to the following Community Prosecutors!
2.Why did two high-level CIA Officials filled reference letters (Fuller and Abramowitz) for your Elementary-school-graduated Prayer who is the chief slanderer?
3.Do you want me to link a video of your Elementary-school-graduated Prayer in which he ordered you and community to hire judges if necessary. Do you obey or not his order?
4.Turkish Army is still one of the most powerful institutions of not only Turkey, but also the world, awaiting you with a huge stick you may like, expecting you to come to wall of mosque!
If this is the level intellectual engagement, the supporters of juntas in the Turkish Army are able to muster, that just shows the intellectual poverty engulfs the ultra-nationalist and militarist circles.
I leave it to the judgement of the readers of the open democracy to decide about your crude comment (number 4 "Turkish Army is awaiting me with huge sticks I may like)--for those unfamiliar with Turkish military's tortures, the sticks Ms. Burcin refers to is one of the military's torture techniques (to sodomize men and rape women with it). Ms. Burcin's "I may like" part is also homophobic, hinting me as gay, and as gay I may enjoy to be sodomized at a mosque wall. Again, I leave to the judgement of the readers.
Dear Readers,
1.Please do never believe that Gulen and his puppet Tayyip are pro-democracy. You have made another mistakes as you made in Iran. You have been cheated by the JDP and Nurcu Movement ,latter of which has numerous intellectuals and commentators dominating the media and scholarly world as the movement has 25 Billion $. Both is the big liars like Khomeini who also promised democracy to Iranians. He established alliance with Utopian liberals and communists. Moderate Islam is rubbish, because no Muslim can dare to change the Qouran's order, even any attempts to comment it is the biggest sin in Islam resulted in hanging. It is the first step of the way going to radical Islam to cheat naive Western scholars and politicians. They never know what a democracy and compromise culture are. They are all raised in a culture needing full obedience. They are all raised in a culture in which their parents and higher ranked community Imams beat them. If you approach them softy, first they laugh at you, then tease you, and finally finger you. While approaching them you have to hold a stick and use it during your communications. Ataturk and Kilic Ali were the best men who knew how to treat these guys.
2.What Tayyip wants to do in fact is Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 to lift the obstacles blocking his road going to an Islamic state. Here are sevrela well-known quotes about him:
3.Today, as Gülen’s interests are in line with the ruling JDP interests, PM Erdogan let the Nurcu movements seize most of the government posts and civil officialdom. According to Birand, a famous liberal journalist, “It is true that Erdoğan and Gülen share the same opinion in many respects. They generally have the same values. And it is obvious that Gülen contributed greatly in bring the AKP to power. . . Members of the Gülen movement give an impression of being more of Muslim, being affiliated to a system closed to the Koran. They stress the place of Islam in politics. . . The AKP gives Gülen protection and legitimacy, and provides for a continuation of his work without any obstacles. . . And Gülen, along with his entire community and its media, provides immense support for the AKP.”[1]
The Nurcu movements are also unable to sneak in the military, they aim to erode it by inventing the Ergenekon case and other coup accusations against the army. As argued by Hablemitoglu who was assassinated while drafting this book, “Fethullah movements have faced difficulties while sneaking in the TAF, nevertheless, they never give up their attempts; while doing so, they see their believers in other security forces as alternate to the TAF.”[2]
Which circle is right or wrong will be known at the end of the Ergenekon case. However, there is a common view, which is even defended by the conservative law scholars and retired high court members that the case is based on numberless judicial mistakes. As Vice Chairman of the Constitutional court is one of the major targets of the Nurcu movement, he and his wife were accused of being a member of subject so-called secret organization by the Ergenekon case’s prosecutor. His wife has been still tried in the case. As trying a member of the constitutional court is to be done by the constitutional court itself, the convicted member has already been tried with the exactly same evidences as used by the Ergenekon case prosecutors against Ergenekon suspects, most of whom are still detainees about two years. It ruled, 10 to just 1, the evidences sent by the Ergenekon case’s prosecutors are not evaluated as strong evidences to try the Vice Chairman. The things making the voting very interesting, the President of the Court, Mr. Kılıç, his wife wears turban, known as his conservative and pro-JDP stands, used in favour of his deputy. The verdict of the constitutional court over the evidences of the case increased the suspicions about the Ergenekon case and reduced the public support.
In fact, in addition to taqiyya, aspersion is also widely used by Nurcu movements whenever someone or some institutions attempt to put barriers in front of the movement’s aim. That “Gülen's community is based on a rich and complex web of business networks and controls a large media empire,”[3] is a well-known reality. Recently, his all television channels begin their broadcast in the morning with Ergenekon case continue until midnight. Although the Court officially bans addressing the so-called secret organization as terrorist, explaining that no conceivable evidence is found yet, his channels continuously address it as a terrorist organization. His “web-like infrastructure also includes universities and colleges, high schools, dormitories, and summer camps. Day-to-day activities are organized by hierarchical management based on the tenets of trust, obedience, and duty to the community. This structure is composed of businessmen, teachers, journalists, and students, known as talebe [in Turkish, Taliban in Afghani language.]”[4] By using this strong network, led by Samanyolu TV and Zaman newspaper that is sold less then 50.000, but printed over a million, delivered for gratis to the government’s offices and police stations (army bans it distributions in the garrisons), almost all Kemalist ex-soldiers, academicians and civil society organizations are cruelly targeted by them by using rumours, even false accusations etc. in order to discredit their honours. Supported by a huge unknown finance, the Today’s Zaman has also been almost unique source of information about Turkey and ensuring the shape foreign politicians and scholars in terms of the view of the Gulen’s movement and of course as a part of the movement the ruling JDP.
As the movement has “over five hundred high schools and seven universities,”[5] community started to dominate scholarly arena as they carefully pick the most brilliant students at their earliest ages and have them studied in the very famous USA and UK Universities.
Movement assigns the same tools in western arena as they used in Turkey, mainly taqiyya and aspersion. As one of the Dutch Deputies, Sadet Kaya requested investigation about Gulen’s Schools in the Netherlands, she was promptly accused of being a member of PKK, even personally by Gulen.[6] Although Gulen’s schools have not been closed down in the Netherlands, due probably to the large margins of the freedoms, Russia has banned all of Gulen's schools, and in April 2006 and banned the Nurcu Movement completely alleging that their espionage on behalf of the CIA.
Actually, vast amount of the news were published during the renewal process of Gulen’s visa in the USA in 2008. For instance, Gülen went to a court, upon his petition for a permanent visa was rejected, although 26 academicians and some former CIA Officials drafted reference letters, including Morton Abramowitz and Graham Fuller, positing that he was a meritorious scholar (he is primary school graduate). In the court, the State attorneys alleged that:
- As claimed, he is not an extraordinarily skilled scholar; he is not even an educator.
- As he presented, with evidence, he is the leader of a movement that has enormous financial sources and is effective in politics and religious issues.
- His movement’s economic power reached $25 billion and there is no transparency in their work.[7]
Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4Everybody can easily find his orders from his original voice to his followers saying that YOU WILL SNEAK TO THE MILITARY, SECURITY FORCES and HIGH LEVEL GOVERNMENT PSOTS and YOU WILL DISGUISE YOURSELVES UNTIL THE GOLDEN SHOT HITS. DURING THESE PERIODS, FOR SURE YOR WILL HIRE PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES. (See http://zh-cn.facebook.com/posted.php?id=185371111694&share_id=298437137237&comments=1)
[1] Birand, M. A., Opinion, How long will the AKP and Gülen coalition last? Hurriyet Daily News, July 23, 2009
[2]Hablemitoglu, N., Necip Hablemitoğlu, N., Köstebek-Fethullahçı Istihbaratçılar Dosyası, Tekin Yayinevi, Istanbul, 2002, p. 2, translated by Author
[3] Yavuz, M. H., Search for a New Social Contract in Turkey: Fethullah Gülen, the Virtue Party and the Kurds, SAIS Review, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 19.1, 1999, pp. 114-143
[4] Yavuz, M. H., Search for a New Social Contract in Turkey: Fethullah Gülen, the Virtue Party and the Kurds, SAIS Review, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 19.1, 1999, pp. 114-143
[5] Yavuz, M. H., Search for a New Social Contract in Turkey: Fethullah Gülen, the Virtue Party and the Kurds, SAIS Review, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 19.1, 1999, pp. 114-143
[6]http://www.fethullahgulen.org/press-room/news/3203-gulen-movement-pacifist-and-open-to-dialogue.pdf, in the last paragraph
[7] For further information see http://www.milliyet.com.tr/default.aspx?aType=HaberDetay&Kategori=guncel&ArticleID=883012&Date=27.06.2008&ver=67, accessed 15 October 2009, translated by Author
[1] From his voice, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lps9OkWyBac, accessed 27 May 2009
[2] From his voice see, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Nl53RoR8w&feature=related, accessed 27 May 2009
[3] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8349678.stm, accesses 09 November 2009
[4] http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2002/05/30/siyaset/siy07.html, accessed 28 May 2009
[5] Yilmaz, H., Tactic or Strategy, A quarterly review on European integration, The bridge magazine
I think Dr. Bill Park's title explains the situation of Burcin Toprak's and that mentality: from farce to tragedy.
The level of biased half-truths presented in cut and paste (from well known anti-Gulen and anti-AKP people) comment, beyond my ability to respond and engage with (I do not think Ms. Burcin wants a reasoned-debate anymore).
Either you need to believe that there is this Gulen-AKP coalition (no evidence again presented how they are related or how they act together) carrying out a total war on Turkish military (again there is no evidence for either of these groups behind the recent military arrest). Taraf Daily which published these stories is a respected, independent, and left-wing daily, routinely cited as a reliable source in The Economist and The New York Times.
Alternatively, there is an easier explanation: there are still pro-coup groups within military. Some other anti-coup groups (or some other people just for the sake of their own interest, like higher chances of promotion) expose these groups. And, groups within Turkish judiciary are taking steps against them.
The level of biased this cut-paste comment reminds the "birhter" group in the United States or La Rouche's people with their Hitler-looks like of Obama posters. A level of blindness does not leave much room for reasoned arguments. AKP and Gulen group deserve and need very much of criticism not blind hatred, or thinly-veiled, fascist-threat of torture Ms. Burcin insinuated in her earlier post.
Going back to my first post about analogy of Weimar Republic: it is not AKP Party would destroy Turkish precious experiment of democracy, but fascist, ultra-nationalist, militarist groups with their support to the irrational "AKP and Gulen people will eat your baby" fear-mongering.
Sezai
From a PhD dissertation? One does not need to be a PhD to figure it out that what you cut-and-paste is far from being a academic enough to be a dissertation. Let alone being a dissertation, hardly any "Introduction to Turkish Politics" students would get a passing grade with it. Now get real; your, or others' from whom you cut-and-paste, conspiracy does not make a dissertation.
"Kissing the combat boots hundred times" sounds to me very much like a fascist line out of Mein Kampf. This mentality creates a bogeyman (in cases of Hitler out of Jewish people and socialists) out of Erdogan and Gulen to substantiate unquestioned support of state/military authority. This is from the Economist (January 7, 2010 issue) regarding F. Gulen: "Fethullah Gulen movement, which is impeccably moderate in its political views but encourages Muslims to practise their faith rigorously."
A lachrymose imam, graduating hardly from an elementary school, and a Machiavellian Macho from Kasimpasa will bring democracy to Turkey:) You can deceive only illiterate and stupid people and you have done so for 60 years. Nevertheless, in addition to the strong Kemalist establishment, the High Courts' Judges and Generals are strong enough to remain your utopias in your rumens and they have done so for 50 years.There are two options for the Utopian bigots (like you). Either you will come to ANITKABIR, kneel down and beg mercy from the unique genius of the last 14 Century, or [...edited].
Turkey is in the process of achieving the level of democracy and protection of human rights, something I believe Ataturk would be proud of, despite these self-proclaimed Kemalists, who shows amazing level of disrespect to ideals of democracy, who pretend their fascist arguments (like support of torture, love of military rule) are Kemalist. The Justice and Development Party may not be the ideal democratic force but a democratizing party.
If this is the level intellectual support one bring to defend Jacobin Kemalism in Turkey, I am saddened for their intellectual poverty, coarse language, and cursing. They gave me one more reason to support the Turkish Judiciary's crack-down of the "deep-state" of Jacobin Kemalists in the military and state bureaucracy (the issue of Dr. Bill Park's article).
After receiving responses from this level of paranoia and intellectual incoherence, from this opposition, I understand the arguments some observers make that the problem of Turkey is not having a strong ruling party (the Justice and Development Party) but absence of any coherent opposition. Jacobin Kemalists in particular has nothing to offer.
It is rather parodixical to read abot democratic rights from people who supports either statist, oppressive official idelogy of the secularist or the traditionalist and patriarcal Islamisist ideology wih total surender to the global new role in the region. Mean while rights of the minorities and the masses are destroyed in this power sruggle between the two regressive forces.
The main concern is how to bring masses under an democratic and egalatarian umbrella to face the real problems and producing real solutions with democratic means and objectives.
It is clear that "Lions and Foxes" in Turkey, are in it for themselfs and their handlers.
I think it is time, if not overdue, to introduce a new term into political philosophy dictionaries.
Kemalofascism:
A Turkish authoritarian ideology and movement. Similar to other fascist ideologies and movements, this ideology and movement lacks a coherent philosophy but characterized by its authoritarianism and pragmatism blended in primarily in an anti-Americanism and Islamophobia and secondarily in anti-Kurdism and anti-Semitism. Its supporters invoke a questionable claim of linking these positions to the principles of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938). Current representatives of this movement Dogu Perincek, Soner Yalcin, Yalcin Kucuk, ve Ergun Poyraz.
Dear Readers,
1.Please look at the picture in the link, in which you will see the loyality of Turkey Prime Minister, Mr. Erdogan, who will bring democaracy to Turkey:=), to an International Terrorist, Hikmetyar: http://www.odatv.com/resimgaleri/merve_kavakci_02.jpg
2.See the link in which the biggest liar of the 21th Century, ruling JDP's strongest supporter, Fethullah Gulen's orders to his belevers. He asks to SNEAK TO THE MILITARY, SECURITY FORCES and HIGH LEVEL GOVERNMENT POSTS and DISGUISE THEMSELVES UNTIL THE GOLDEN SHOT HITS. DURING THE PREPARATION PERIOD, for sure Community Militans will HIRE PROSECUTORS and JUDGES. http://www.odatv.com/resimgaleri/merve_kavakci_02.jpg
3.I assure you, there were numberless hired polemicists, like Sezai, before the Iranian Revolution, trying to deceive western scholars and polticians as if these kind of Islamists would bring democarcy to their countries. Please read something what happened in the Iranian Revolution. You will be amazed with the similarties between the two occureneces in Iran and Turkey as suggested by Bahman Nirumand, a well known Iranian Journalist and author, who took a very active role in the revolution. He draws the West’s attention to the astonishing similarities between the Iranian revolution and Turkey’s current direction. He suggests, “When he was in Paris, Khomeini was talking about a democracy with ultimate freedoms, even the organization permission to communists. But just after he secured his regime, he declared that the entire leftist, nationalist and liberal were the enemies of Islam. Exploiting the rules of democracy he also had today fascist regime ratified to Iranians with a referendum, whose result was 20 million yes, just 140.000 no, which could set an example of exploitation of democratic ways by Islam fundamentalism. According to Nirumand, just before he died, former Iranian ruler Shah Reza Pahlavi confessed his deep regret that he listened to the USA and UK, instead of his military (especially his Air Forces Commander) that had suggested to him to eradicate mullahs.[1]
4.The 22th Century's biggest lie is the term of MODERATE ISLAM. In Islam, “the army is God's army and the enemy is God's enemy. The duty of God's soldiers is to dispatch God's enemies as quickly as possible to the place where God will chastise them—that is to say, the afterlife.”[2] Besides, for a true believer, “the obligation of holy war therefore begins at home and continues abroad, against the same infidel enemy.”[3]
5.The West's supports to these liars, Fetos Gulen and Tayyip Erdogan are a kind of shooting at their feet. However, we, Kemalist Establishment, never care West's supports. These supports may solely cause the extension of the Turks' agonies, but never has a considerable impact on the final outcome. Because we are keen and strong enough to protect and preserve our unique revolution that will set an example to all Muslims moaning without letup under primitive and wild rules of Islam fascism. We are more vigilant and cleaver than Shah Reza Pahlavi. By some means or other, we will definitely eradicate Turkish Mullahs.
6.The Western World may consider that we are autocratic and Jacobin. I am not fully denying this assertion. The ones attacking to Kemalism must show us another tested alternative. As I depicted in my one of the previous comments, this way is the unique tested and successful way while communicating mullahs. If you approach them softy, first they laugh at you, then tease you, and finally finger you. While approaching them you have to hold a big bat and use it during your relations when necessary. Ataturk and Kilic Ali were the best men who knew how to treat these guys.
[1] For the entire interview, see Yalcin, S. Hurriyet, 23 September, 2007
[2] Lewis, B., The roots of Muslim rage, the Atlantic Monthly, September 1990, p.2
[3] ibid
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I am so sorry for the technical problem. To see the Fethullah Gulen's orders to his believers look at this adress by copying it to your browser please.
http://zh-cn.facebook.com/posted.php?id=185371111694&share_id=298437137237&comments=1)
Dear ,Anonymous (15 March 2010 - 12:37am)
Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
The Kemalist Revolution has been still underway, as we lost our leader quite early. Our ultimate aim is to make Turkey a genuine Western Country. When revolution reaches its target Turkey will become a liberal democrat country. For that reason, we voluntarily passed to multi-party system, even if it is early. Please do not compare us with Mullahs. Researches imply that their true support in Turkey is about 10 percent. But they are really rather clever to cheat the innocent Muslims and gather their votes as they successfully employ takiyyah tool. As we can never tell lies to our nation we can not challenge these liars. Therefore, sometimes we have used coercive powers to overcome Mullahs. The 90 percent majority must see this picture and take side Kemalist Establishment. Because the sine qua non element of a genuine democracy in a Muslim country is to cage the religion into the mosques and private houses and never let it come to social and political life. We will eventually do that, however if you understand and support us you will shorten the time. Otherwise, it may last even 1000 Years as predicted General Kivrikoglu!
As more biased opinions, selected and distorted examples about Justice and Progress Parry is being poured by Ms. Burcin, let me elaborate my theory of Turkish politics.
I will not go into detail about Ms. Burcin’s gross and misleading mixing categories, definitions. One examples is this: he looks at polls for support of Sharia in Turkey—usually hovers around 8 percent --and assuming the Justice and Development Party as a party for Sharia, she goes on explaining its votes—in recent eletion 47 percent—she explains differences as cleaverness or hyprocrisy of the Justice and Development Party, some Kemolofascist often attribute it stupidity or lack of education Turkish people as well. Good luck with that demeaning analysis.
Here is the Turkish dilemma (and cost of Kemalofascism in Turkey): Turkey needs a liberal-left party with flawless commitment to secularism. Turkey lacks such party. Kemalofasist domination of segments of Turkish military and establishment, prevents nominally leftist parties (like the Republican People’s Party) to commit a form of authoritarian and militarist secularism in Turkey. This commitment causes three problems:
1) I It prevents the Repubican People’s Party to utilize the universal standards for a leftist-liberal position. Many in Europe would have difficulty to categorize the Republican People’s Party as a leftist (social-democrat party).
2) Kemalofascism is very unpopular Turkey (Its strongest supporters like Dogu Perincek’s Workers Party get sliver of votes in elections; the headscarf ban is more controversial with 30 percent of Turks support it). Republican People’s Party willingness of not moving away from Kemalofasist groups, limits its ability to secure any majority in the parliament. You cannot beat the Justice and Development Party with just developing politics for the people sympathetic to Kemalofascism.
3) This Kemalofascist position further limits the Republican People’s Party’s ability to develop policy on other issues where core of Kemalofascist are sensitive, like Kurdish minority. The utter inability of a self-proclaimed social democrat party, that of the Republican People’s Party, to reach Kurdish minority in Turkey is just embarrassing. Its vote in the Kurdish region is less than 5 percent.
The Justice and Development Party was able to transform the Islamist position by moving it to a liberal islamist position and it became a durable force in Turkish politics. The question is whether Republican People’s Party would achieve a similar transformation to move from a narrow Kemalofascist intellectual base and commitment to a liberal-leftist position. That’s my dream and that would be my party.
That’s the cost of Kemalofascism to the Turkish politics. The Turkish Judiciary’s crack-down on the militant elements of Kemalofasist groups (and their extension in Turkish military) has “potential” to enable the Republican People’s Party to break some of its chains to this authoritarian and militarist ideology, represented by Ms. Burcin here.
Againts the biased view raised by a hired polemicist,
Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Due to a well-organized media operation, directed by Nurcu movements,[1] JDP’s main supporter, most people have misperception on the occurrences in Turkey. For instance, many have a perception that there is a direct correlation between the JDP’s election victory and the 28 April 2007 memo issued by the TGS before the presidential election, and for this reason the JDP votes bounced. Even some serious major media, such as the Guardian, Independent and El Mundo established association between the two events in their news published on 23 July 2007.[2] One of the KONDA[3] surveys refutes these superficial and easy approaches. It says, “The JDP vote was not a reactionary vote against the TGS warning,”[4] and continues, “the main incentive guiding the electorates on the ballot box was the economic situation and expectation in 78,3 percent.”[5]
In the same research, KONDA finds that 75 percent of the JDP Supporters' education are maximum primary school, while just 4 percent Universty graduates vote for the JDP. The most striking finding is 77 percent of Female University Graduates vote for Kemalist Party as the mother feel the danger better than Turkish males and these liars' (including Sezai) western supporters.
[1] Nurcu movement controls a huge media outlet in Turkey amd on the World. Today’s Zaman, for instance has almost been a unique information source of foreigners.
[2]http://www.turkcebilgi.net/haberler/dunya/turk-halki-ordunun-siyasete-mudahalesine-cevap-verdi-29622.html, accessed 25 October 2009
[3] KONDA is one of the most prestigious public survey company directed by a respectable scholar, Prof. Tarhan Erdem. The following first digits are the KONDA’s 2007 election predictions, the second ones realization. JDP: 47,9, 46,59; RPP: 19,5, 20.79; NAP: 14,1, 14,25
[4] KONDA Public survey, What were the incentives in the ballot box, issued in Radical newspaper between 25-28 July 2007, available at http://www.konda.com.tr/index.php?sf=11, accessed 25 October 2009, p. 9
[5] KONDA Public survey, What were the incentives in the ballot box, issued in Radical newspaper between 25-28 July 2007, available at http://www.konda.com.tr/index.php?sf=11, accessed 25 October 2009, p. 2
In part, of course, there will be more support for the Kemalist Party in Turkey among university-educated women in Turkey, because, as every observer of Turkish politics, know the discrimination religious women face: Religious women have been denied, in the name of "secularism", to attend and graduate from Turkish universities. With their headscraves, they were not deem worthy of a university education. Ms. Burcin's logiic is this: some daughters and mothers are more precious than others.
You see Dear Readers,
As Islamist Gulen Movement controls a huge money (25 Billion $) they recruit academicians and polemicists and continuously tell lies although they very well know the realities of Turkey.
Please see the below research conducted by two respected Turkish Sociologists. It explicitly says that just 1 percent of the women in Turkey are unable to attend Universities because of their head scarves.
I am inviting the above slanderer to admit or deny if he knows this research. According to his level of knowledge he must know.However, this is the Nurcu Movement Believers' common ways to continuously tell lies and try to cheat the people who do not know much about Turkey's realities.
http://www.nethaber.com/Toplum/54447/Amac-kizlarin-egitimiyse-turban-sahiden-teferruat-Kizlarin
Wow. I am not here make any methodological argument for lies and statistics. But check the statistics: Just % 1 of "Turkish women" unable to attend. If Turkish population is about 70 million, and about half of them is women, that is about 35 million. %1 percent will make it 350.000 women.
If we assume that the base of statistics is university age population: each year the number is about 3 million (I keep it modest here and half of them women, 1.5 million. 1% of that population is 15,000 each year denied because of their choice. Potentially, then, 15,000 daughters who are not as precious as Ms. Burcin's daughter.
Why would anyone would be denied university education because of clothing is beyond my comprehension.
I wish someone actually had paid for me all these! Any takers?
Since Ms. Burcin now started to repeat her posts (and also because I really think this should get into google search) I will repeat myself:
I think it is time, if not overdue, to introduce a new term into political philosophy dictionaries.
Kemalofascism:
A Turkish authoritarian ideology and movement. Similar to other fascist ideologies and movements, this ideology and movement lacks a coherent philosophy but characterized by its authoritarianism and pragmatism blended in primarily in an anti-Americanism and Islamophobia and secondarily in anti-Kurdism and anti-Semitism. Its supporters invoke a questionable claim of linking these positions to the principles of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938). Current representatives of this movement Dogu Perincek, Soner Yalcin, Yalcin Kucuk, and Ergun Poyraz.
This movement can be seen, for example in this unforgettable picture:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xqujEOxoOG8/SwmEhd2BPHI/AAAAAAAAGa0/8tDFoiEV3a0/s1600/13.jpg
in which, these kemalofascist group with stones in their hands is waiting for the former leader Kurdish party. Yes, they throw these, rather big stones, at him.
Instead of exaggerating and exploiting 1 percent right, go and put pressure on the elder bigots (that is the main cause) for sending their daughters to schools if you really have good intention. Against CYDD campaign, namely "FATHER PLEASE SEND ME TO SCHOOL" (prized by the UN) to let all girls access to schools, there has been new campaign nowadays launched by bigots in Erzincan that is labeled "FATHER DO NOT SEND ME TO SCHOOLS." This is your way for reaching your fake democracy!!
Do not exaggarate %1--that is about the percentage of Jewish people living in Germany in late 1930s.
Do not exaggarate %1--that is about the percentage of women directly influence by abortion laws.
Do not exaggarate %1--that is about the percentage of Muslims living in the United States.
Do not exaggarate %1--that is about the percentage of non-Muslims living in Turkey.
I care about %1's rights (not on that I am part of 1%). In fact, due to rights of that %1, everyone else's rights are meaningful. It is called fascism to suppress some people's basic rights, however small that group is. In Turkey suppressing the right of women to go to univeristy with headscarves is Kemalofascism.
ps: I do think that headscarf ban influences more than %1 of women--despite whatever these purported statistics claim.
I think the current Political power struggle between the two low IQ camps should come to a halt, the two controversial camps should focus on the real agenda here. "liberalization of nuclear market."
it seems that after india, pakistan israel and iran now nuclear market is liberalized and countries such as turkey, syria, north african countries, and even armenia and azerbaijan may seek alternatives to pruchase nuclear products. Its a new sector now. needs urgent attention.
I guess "they" are planning to come over the global crisis by liberalizing the nuclear market and giving permission to middle eastern and central asian governments to spend trillions of dollars to purchase nuclear products, thus revive the global economy by pumping war paranoia.
one of the greatest marketing con of 2000's. arms race and military industrial complex hand by hand coming over the global crisis by creating war paranoia and making governments spend trillions of dolalrs to keep the global market alive. wow.
I was just hypothetically reacting. you may continue to your low IQ debate (no offense) lol
What a huge IQ you have Anonymous,16 March 2010 - 11:37am!!!
I am inviting you to receive IQ tests together!
This is the common problem of all Turkish Libos (Liberals). The bigots have known very well what they want and have done for 87 years. But you, Utopian Libos, are flying in the air. If Fetos (Fethullah Gulen) supported JDP wins the upcoming elections a 1000000 MT nuclear bomb will definitely fall on the heads of Turks. They are in the power in municipalities for almost 20 Years and in Government for 9 Years. If they come to power another four year term no one can save Turkey. The West must forget Turkey. The other problems are ten times less serious than this problem. By exhibiting an impartial stand to the war between Kemalist Establishment and Bigots you are serving to the Bigots. Do you understand me Utopian?
Before i get started, i wish good luck to Mr. Kaya. As far as i've read from the previous comments, it looks like he is in a fight with the most ignorent, stubborn and rude person that i have ever seen. The facts about Mr.Gulen are so obvious that even most of the intellectuals from all over the world emraced Mr. Gulen's thoughts. I am really disappointed with the fact that only our "intellectuals" (! like Ms. Toprak ) do not want to accept these facts. They must come to uderstanding that we are no longer living in 80's.
To get accurate information about Mr. Gulen and Gulen Movement please visit the following pages :
<a href="http://www.fethullah-gulen.org/biography.html">Fethullah Gulen</a>
<a href="http://www.fethullah-gulen.org/">Gulen Movement</a>
Before i get started, i wish good luck to Mr. Kaya. As far as i've read from the previous comments, it looks like he is in a fight with the most ignorent, stubborn and rude person that i have ever seen. The facts about Mr.Gulen are so obvious that even most of the intellectuals from all over the world emraced Mr. Gulen's thoughts. I am really disappointed with the fact that only our "intellectuals" (! like Ms. Toprak ) do not want to accept these facts. They must come to uderstanding that we are no longer living in 80's.
To get accurate information about Mr. Gulen and Gulen Movement please visit the following pages :
Fethullah Gulen
Gulen Movement
Thanks
Another [edited - ad hominem attacks are not permitted - BC]
He accused me of living in 1980s, while they still live in 7th Century:) Whereas everything has changed in Turkey why Gulen is afraid of returning Turkey? He and Tayyip very well know that nothing has changed in Turkey and will never change in reality on the contrary of the wrong perception created by the huge partisan media outlet.
By trampling our judicial system, jailing 50-100 innocent heroes is nothing in comparison with the powerful Kemalist Establishment, mainly Army and High Court Judges. As the unique genius of the last 14 Century, M.Kemal knew bigots' liver, he prepared a gulanpara sarması (contrivance) for you. You have nothing to do except an armed revolution. If you dare, we are here, looking forward to seeing you with your arms, for sure if you think you can do it , I mean SIKIYORSA...As this harsh reality is known by Fetos and Tayyip they continuously give subsequent skittles to naive electorates to keep them on the board, and while they amusing naive supporters with skittles they feather their's own nests. Today Tayyip is one of the richest man of Turkey while he was a poor worker 20 yeras ego...While Gulen was a poor Imam 20 year ego he was one of the richest man of the world, tahnks to their naive sopporters, most of whom are the poorest class of Turkey.
That is the entire story of Turkey.
Ms. Burcin claims: "As Islamist Gulen Movement controls a huge money (25 Billion $) to recruit academicians and polemicists and continuously tell lies although they very well know the realities of Turkey."
25 Billion is a huge amount of money to hire people.
Let's assume Gulen group paid 10K$ to work for them (good money for additional income; they can even hire full time people with that amount of money in many developing countries, but I am thinking US academic market here. 10K$ is a good additional income to do a weekend blogging).
They can hire 100 of academics for 1 Million $
They can hire 100 000 academics for 1 Billion$
They can hire 2.5 million academics for 25 Billion $. That is 2,500,000 PhDs are working for Gulen group. Of course this is absurd: there is not 2,500,000 PhDs in North America and Western Europe combined (let along political science PhDs). And of course, there are the ones who do this for free, like me :( (Gulen people, give me some coffee money at least).
You do not need to be math genuis to figure the impossiblity of this claim (if even you assume they intend to spend this money on a 10-year period). As with the percentages, like the 1% argument above, Ms. Burcin shows her difficulty with dealing with such large numbers. It seems for Kemalofascists, you do not need any valid data.
After this, I do not think I can take any Ms. Burcin's claims seriously.
And, the editor please do not give my IP to Ms. Burcin. Earlier she threatened me with torture above (the army waiting me with sticks, she claimed).
I sympathize with Anon's low IQ debate observation. I really do. This is one of this low IQ comments (sorry in advance): Google "Kemalofascism," this page comes 2nd. That's my contribution to the political science literature. And thanks to Ms. Burcin for the inspiration.
It is not my claim [edited - please stick to the arguments. Making slurs againsts other posters is not allowed - BC], it is an US State Attorneys' Allegation! For the below Attorneys' Allegation see:
http://www.milliyet.com.tr/default.aspx?aType=HaberDetay&Kategori=guncel&ArticleID=883012&Date=27.06.2008&ver=67
In the court, the State attorneys alleged that:
- As claimed, he [Fethullah Gulen] is not an extraordinarily skilled scholar; he is not even an educator.
- As he presented, with evidence, he is the leader of a movement that has enormous financial sources and is effective in politics and religious issues.
- His movement’s economic power reached $25 billion and there is no transparency in their work.
And Bill Clinton disagrees. Here is a video link, Clinton on Gulen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPiPOL9-EQs
According to Ms. Burcin (am I repeating myself?) allegations against Gulen movement is always true, allegatations against the Turkish military in the form of the "deep state's involvement" in torture and extrajudicial killings is always false.
We came to the same position of double standards: Gulen people is quilty until proven innocent, Ergenekon and other Kemalofascist people (I love using this word) are innocent until proven qulity. Of course, Gulen, if I am not wrong, is not charged with any crimes either in the US or in Turkey, but that's beside the point. Apart from this obvious double standard whatever the evidence one provides she will not change her categories. Facts are always anti-fascist and that bothers her, as that would bother all true belivers of a white-black worldview.
Who is Clinton hired calumniator? I mention from an Attorney's allegation, not subjective assessment of an ex president. If you control 25 Billion $ you can easily hire a retired president, as you hired hundreds of the scholars, but not an attorney in the USA. Ask our ex president Sezer to make a similar statement as made by Clinton if you can dare?
In Turkey, for four years, there have been dozens of allegations, JUST ALLEGATIONS, even ASPERSIONS even PLOTS, but strangely NONE OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE PROVED?After the General Elections the Judicial Branch will eventually find who were the bastards behind of these stupid plots. If they don't do, M.Kemal's Worriers will personally do it, this is our swear!!!!
I believe that those who sees Mr. Gulen as a threat have never visited Gulen inspired schools or have never met someone from Gulen Movement. If you want to get to know someone better you don't listen the rumors, rumors will mislead you. What you do is to go directly to the person and talk with him, ask him questions. A life dedicated to dialogue does not deserve this at all. If you would like to read articles that are written by him and intellectuals all around the world, please take a look at the following sites: <a href="http://www.fethullah-gulen.org" title="Fethullah Gulen" rel="nofollow">Fethullah Gulen and the Gulen Movement</a>.
Mr. Gulen is the honorary president of the Rumi Forum
I believe that those who sees Mr. Gulen as a threat have never visited Gulen inspired schools or have never met someone from Gulen Movement. If you want to get to know someone better you don't listen the rumors, rumors will mislead you. What you do is to go directly to the person and talk with him, ask him questions. A life dedicated to dialogue does not deserve this at all. If you would like to read articles that are written by him and intellectuals all around the world, please take a look at the following sites:
Fethullah Gulen and the Gulen Movement
Those of you who want to get more information about the Gulen movement and Fethullah Gulen can go to following links:
<a title="Fethullah Gulen Schools" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/world/asia/04islam.html" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen Schools</a>
<a title="Fethullah Gulen" href="http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2008/07/amodernottoman/" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>
Those of you who want to get more information about the Gulen movement and Fethullah Gulen can go to following links:
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/world/asia/04islam.html" title="Fethullah Gulen Schools">Fethullah Gulen Schools</a>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2008/07/amodernottoman/" title="Fethullah Gulen">Fethullah Gulen</a>
Sorry for the previous posts.
Those of you who want to get more information about the Gulen movement and Fethullah Gulen can go to following links:
Fethullah Gulen Schools on NY Times
Fethullah Gulen on Prospect Magazine
The real end of Kemalist fascism coming soon...
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