Announcer says Turkey is now run by 'peace council' - secular supposedly

[flamingdem]

Could be promising..

Announcer says Turkey is now run by 'peace council'

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2016-07-15/announcer-says-turkey-is-now-run-by-peace-council/

An announcer on Turkey's state broadcaster has said the country is now run by a "peace council" which will ensure the safety of the population.

They said the current government had "eroded" democratic and secular rule, adding:

A new constitution will be drawn up as soon as possible
Public order will not be damaged
Freedom of citizens will be guaranteed regardless of religion, race and language
Martial law will be imposed

[oberliner]

1. Could be promising?

A government formed out of a military overthrow of an elected government?

[flamingdem]

2. He's been favorable to Isis

and has oppressed his own people. In this case the theory doesn't match the reality. Plus, we need the Kurds in Syria

[oberliner]

7. Then we should hope he gets voted out of office

Not removed by a military coup.

[Arazi]

9. He was a dictator in virtually every way but name

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/erdogans-march-to-dictatorship-in-turkey

He wasn't ever going to go peacefully from power

[oberliner]

11. He was elected president two years ago

His closest rival in that election finished 13 percentage points behind him. The margin of victory was large enough that there was no need for a second round of elections.

[Else You Are Mad]

6. Erdogan...

Was just barely a step above a dictator that did not want to fight ISIS and was dragging his feet. If the government is actually going to be secular, I say good riddance. But, I will with hold my judgment until I see how this actually plays out.

[oberliner]

8. So you don't necessarily believe in democracy?

If a military coup is the easiest and fastest way to change governments, then that works for you?

[Else You Are Mad]

10. Erdogan was elected in what could barely be called 'Democratic'

Erdogan was a power hungry despot that would not have stepped down peacefully. He jailed -- and killed --nyone that spoke negatively about them.

[oberliner]

13. What are you talking about?

He won the last presidential election. It was democratic.

[Else You Are Mad]

14. Sorry my phone sent the last reply before I could edit it

Read my edits. He won with very underhanded methods.

[oberliner]

15. I just don't get how progressives can support a military coup

It seems to run counter to pro-democracy values.

[Else You Are Mad]

17. Erdogan was a dictator

Don't get me wrong, I don't support what is going on -- but I can understand why it is happening.

[840high]

33. I can understand.

[SQUEE]

12. The Turkish military is specifically tasked with protecting secular rule.

Has been since Ataturk.

[athena]

26. Coups in Turkey usually weaken democracy.

I took a course in my senior year of college on Turkish politics. This was a long time ago, but one thing we learned is that whenever there is a military coup in Turkey, the long-term result is that democracy is weakened. Even though Erdogan is a dictator in every sense of the word, it would be much better for the people to overthrow him than for the military to do so.

Personally, I happen to think that Erdogan planned this whole thing.

[Else You Are Mad]

35. You make a good point.

I wouldn't put it past Erdogan to have staged this.

[IamTheNoodle]

3. Good, the leader was power grabbing and becoming a dictatorish

Wouldn't be surprised if The Company has their fingers involved.

[Rex]

4. Sure military generals making up a 'peace council' riiigghtt.

Citizens are free, but you know just for now...martial law...

[Recursion]

5. Turkey's military sees itself as the guardian of secularism

This isn't the first time they've done this. It does mean their EU bid is on hold for a while though.

[malaise]

16. Don the Con could attempt a coup against

the two other branches of government. His goons would call that promising as well.
Do we want democracy or not?

[Else You Are Mad]

18. Erdogan makes Trump look like a saint.

[flamingdem]

21. Right of peaceful assembly is certainly not a right

Erdogan extended to Turkish citizens. Remember the incidents at the square in Istanbul

[chelsea0011]

19. US State Department was reported on ABC as being "totally caught by surprise". Were they?

[flamingdem]

20. Really have to hope they have some intelligence

on the situation, this is yuuuge

[roamer65]

22. This is where a military coup is a good thing.

They are protecting the secularist principles of Ataturk by kicking a IS loving Wahhabi Islamist scumbag like Erdogan out of power.

So there, Riyadh...how do you like this one?

[flamingdem]

23. I think this goes Obama's way

but I'm not sure the Cia induced the coup, yet.

[oberliner]

25. They are gunning people down in the streets

How is that a good thing?

[roamer65]

28. How many Syrians has Erdogan's smuggled weapons killed? N/t

[athena]

27. Please see my post earlier in the thread.

A military coup is never a good thing -- not even in Turkey, and not even when it is done to kick a religious nutcase out of power. It only strengthens the resolve of the supporters of the religious nutcase.

[geek tragedy]

24. "Freedom of citizens will be guaranteed. ... Martial law will be imposed."

[Jake Stern]

29. Erdogan and Trump draw support from much the same groups in their respective societies.

Their base are the deeply religious, rural dwellers, and the working class. People who feel faith has been driven from the public square and those who resent the "elites" in Istanbul.

The fundamental difference between the two is how much religion means to them: Erdogan is a committed Islamist while Donny merely pays lip service to faith.

[still_one]

30. I don't think it is clear who is in control

[Agnosticsherbet]

31. Breaking news say coup defeated

But stand by

[Corporate666]

32. Ahhh yes, a "peace council"

Sort of like the Patriot Act.

Or the Protect Life Act.

Or Affordable Care Act.

Or the Defense of Marriage Act.



There's a comedian who does a bit about how when the government wants to ramrod something down the throats of the populace, they just name it the opposite of what it actually does.


Erdogan is a snake and I will be very happy to see him go. But when they claim a "peace council" is running things, that is much more alarming than most of the other details of this situation.

[forjusticethunders]

34. Erdogan is an dangerous authoritarian, just like Trump.

However, Erdogan (and Trump should he win) should NOT be removed by military coup, should be removed either at the ballot box or through impeachment, or if it HAS to be done extralegally, by a popular uprising.

Military coups cause more problems than they solve no matter how bad the person they're removing is.