Turkey says US is 'no friend' for harboring 'coup planner' Gulen

[onebyone]

The Turkish government has indirectly criticized its NATO ally, the US, for providing a safe haven for Fethullah Gülen, whom Ankara blames for masterminding Friday’s military coup attempt. The cleric is currently living in self-imposed exile in the States.
TrendsCoup attempt in Turkey
“I do not see any country that would stand behind this man, this leader of the terrorist gang, especially after last night. The country that would stand behind this man is no friend to Turkey. It would even be a hostile act against Turkey,”Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım told reporters on Saturday, as Turkey was recovering from overnight violence.

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Erdogan slams US support of Syrian Kurds, lectures Washington on ‘good & bad terrorists’
Commenting on Turkey’s hostility towards the 75-year-old preacher, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Ankara hadn’t requested the cleric’s extradition. The US official said that Washington will be"completely supportive of efforts to assist the government of Turkey,"but insisted that any decision on Gulen will be taken on the basis of legal, and not political considerations.

"We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen, and obviously we invite the government of Turkey to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny and the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments appropriately and I am confident there will be some discussion about that," Kerry told reporters during his trip to Luxembourg.

Following Kerry's statement, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly demanded Gulen's extradition during a televised government meeting in Ankara.

Speaking to media inside the extensive complex in Saylorsburg Pennsylvania, where he lives and preaches, Gulen rejected Turkey's accusations, and countenanced the possibility that the coup was a false flag operation.

“There is a possibility that it could be a staged coup (by Mr Erdogan’s AKP) and it could be meant for further accusations (against the Gulenist and the military),” said Gulen.

Gülen was a political ally of Erdogan when he was Turkey’s Prime Minister, but the two fell out and became bitter rivals. Ankara accuses Gülen of creating a “parallel state” in the form of a network of supporters among Turkish officials. Erdogan accused Gülen of masterminding a corruption scandal involving senior government figures in 2013, and launched a crackdown against his organization.

A faction of the Turkish military attempted to topple the government overnight, but failed in its bid. The attempted power grab involved tanks and helicopters, as government buildings were attacked and violent clashes erupted between government loyalists and rebels in Istanbul and Ankara.

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‘Gift from God’: Erdogan sees coup as ‘chance to cleanse military’ while PM mulls death penalty
The hostilities left over 260 people killed and many others injured. The government has responded to the coup by initiating a massive purge in the military.

Binoy Kampmark of the RMIT University told RT that while willful and erratic Erdogan has been increasingly unpopular in the White House, the coup put the US in a tight spot.

"The US doesn't want an overly belligerent Turkish government, but, by the same token they don't want an unstable one. Turkey, with the largest standing army in NATO, is definitely a source of concern," he said via an online uplink.

"If the coup had been successful, the US would have protested, but they can deal with the Turkish military, probably better than with Erdogan. They could deal with him before, but with his crackdown on democracy, and the Kurds, who are fighting ISIS, he has become an embarrassment, and after the coup it will get worse," defense analyst Ivan Eland told RT.

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Kerry has told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavosoglu on Saturday that claims of US involvement in Turkey’s failed coup hurt relations between the two countries, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Kerry also urged Turkey to follow the rule of law when investigating the attempted coup.

“He made clear that the United States would be willing to provide assistance to Turkish authorities conducting this investigation, but that public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations,” Kirby said.
https://www.rt.com/news/351611-turkey-us-friend-coup/

 

[onebyone]

Turkish president wants U.S. to send rival cleric home
By Ray Sanchez and Sheena McKenzie, CNN



Updated 0404 GMT (1204 HKT) July 17, 2016

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Fethullah Gulen, living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, suggested that overthrow and assassination attempts have been staged in the past though he did not directly accuse Erdogan of deliberately plunging Turkey into chaos.
The upheaval exposes deep discontent within the military ranks. But less than 24 hours after a night of violence, questions remained about who was behind it and why they decided to act now.
The ramifications of the coup attempt on the political system of a NATO ally and partner in the U.S. fight against ISIS also remain unclear.
Erdogan's call for U.S. involvement in punishing his rival comes after Turkish authorities closed the airspace around Turkey's Incirlik Air Base, where his government allows the American military to launch operations in the air campaign against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
"This country suffered a lot in the hands of the Gulen Movement," Erdogan told throngs of supporters near his home in Istanbul.
"I call on the United States and President Barack Obama ... (to) either arrest Fethullah Gulen or return him to Turkey," he added. "If we are strategic partners or model partners, do what is necessary."
Latest example of Turkey's deteriorating stability
Gulen, a reclusive figure who leads a popular movement called Hizmet, said anyone could have masterminded the coup attempt: nationalists, the opposition. He denied any involvement.
"It could be anything," Gulen told journalists through a translator.
"I have been away from Turkey for 16 years," he said.
Whoever was responsible, the uprising is the latest worrying example of deteriorating stability in a country once promoted to the wider Muslim world as a model of democratic governance and economic prosperity.
Some 14 years after Erdogan's political party swept to power in elections, Turkey teeters on the brink.
At the heart of Erdogan's rivalry with Gulen is a fundamental division in Turkish society between secularists -- some within the country's top military brass -- and Islamists, including the president's AKP party.
Thousands of military officers have been arrested, including the commander of Turkey's 2nd Army, Gen. Adem Huduti.
On Saturday, the Pentagon said U.S. officials were working with Turkey to resume air operations at Incirlik Air Base.
"In the meantime, U.S. Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL campaign to minimize any effects on the campaign," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.

Clothes and weapons beloging to soldiers involved in the coup attempt lie on the ground abandoned on Bosphorus Bridge.



Key air base closed
For now, American airstrike missions from the base have been halted. Turkish officials told the United States the airspace has been closed until they can make sure all Turkish air force elements are in the hands of government forces, a U.S. defense official told CNN on Saturday.
Still, a small number of U.S. planes on missions before the airspace closed were allowed to land at Incirlik, the official said.
Earlier, the U.S. consulate in Adana reported that power to the base had been cut and authorities prevented movement on and off the site.
Cook said U.S. facilities were operating on internal power and the power shutdown did not affect base operations. Defense department personnel in the area were "safe and secure," he said.
The base is home to the Turkish Air Force and the U.S. Air Force's 39th Air Base Wing, which includes about 1,500 American personnel, according to the base website.
Uprising 'under control'
Before cheering supporters on Saturday, Erdogan affirmed his control.
"You know how you went out in to the squares?" he asked. "That's what ruined their plot. And for the next week we need to continue this solidarity, we must keep up these meetings."
The country's institutions were "back at work," he said.
"There are a lot of generals and colonels that were detained but those who want to set the Turkish people and the Turkish military against each other, let us not fall prey to their plot."
Chaos erupted the night before when military tanks rolled onto the streets of Ankara and Istanbul and soldiers blocked the famous Bosphorus Bridge.
Turkey's attempted coup: By the numbers
• At least 161 people killed

• 2,839 military officers were detained

• At least 1,140 people wounded

• 1 airfield still under military faction's control

• At least 200 soldiers turned themselves in to police in Ankara

• 11 years: Erdogan's reign as Prime Minister

• 2014: Year that Erdogan ran for President -- and won

The military's claim of a takeover was read on state broadcaster TRT. The anchor said the military imposed martial law.
The military said it wanted to maintain democratic order and that the government had "lost all legitimacy."
But the coup attempt lost momentum after Erdogan returned from vacation at the seaside resort of Marmaris. By the time he re-emerged after hours of silence, dozens had died.
The prime minister's officer said at least 161 civilians and at least 20 coup plotters were killed.
Of the nearly 200 deaths, most were police officers killed in a gun battle with a helicopter near the Parliament complex in Ankara, NTV reported. The building was damaged. Another 1,140 people were wounded.
At least 2,839 military officers were detained, a source in the President's office said. The Ankara chief public prosecutor's office took nearly 200 top Turkish court officials into custody, Anatolian News Agency reported Saturday.
The officials include 140 members of the Supreme Court and 48 members of the Council of State, one of Turkey's three high courts.

8 seek asylum in Greece
A Turkish helicopter carrying eight men landed in Greece Saturday and the men aboard requested political asylum, Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in a tweet requested "the immediate surrender of eight heinous soldiers."
President addresses country on FaceTime
But Greece will not necessarily return the alleged coup plotters, the Greek foreign minister said Saturday in a statement.
The asylum request "will be examined based on the provisions of Greek and international law," Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said.
Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke Saturday evening, according to State Department spokesman John Kirby.
Kerry gave his support to the Turkish government and said the United States backs Turkey in taking measures to protect its civilians.
The U.S. statement also said, "Secretary Kerry also urged restraint by the Turkish government and respect for due process -- and its international obligations -- as it investigates and uncovers additional information about those involved. He made clear that the United States would be willing to provide assistance to Turkish authorities conducting this investigation, but that public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations."

Witnesses described hours of chaos in Turkey overnight, including explosions, gunfire and low-flying jets.
The Turkey Coup in 90 seconds
Bombs struck the Parliament building in Ankara. A helicopter allegedly stolen by coup plotters was shot down by an F-16.

Turkish people look at a burned car in Istanbul on Saturday.

The surrender
Shortly after dawn, however, video footage showed soldiers surrendering. Hundreds turned themselves in to police in Ankara, Turkish state media reported.
CNN affiliate briefly forced off air
They walked away from tanks and abandoned their posts on the Bosphorus Bridge connecting the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.
Turkish Airlines resumed flights out of Istanbul Ataturk Airport, which had been overrun by protesters. However, U.S.-based airlines are prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration from flying to Ataturk or Esenboga International Airport in Ankara.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning on Saturday telling Americans to reconsider trips to Turkey at this time and urging those that did visit the country to "stay vigilant" and "avoid large crowds."

A Turkish police officer embracea a man on a tank after the military position was taken over at the Anatolian side at Uskudar in Istanbul on Saturday.
The tragedy of Turkey's attempted coup
Erdogan was elected Prime Minister in 2003. Under his rule, Turkey became a powerhouse in the Middle East. His reign came to an end in 2014, and his own party's rules prevented him from seeking a fourth term.

Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan leaves a polling booth after casting his vote in Turkey's 26th general election at a polling station in Istanbul on November 1, 2015.
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Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis, right, and Erdogan walk together during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on March 23, 2016.
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Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan delivers a speech during his visit to the Turkish War Colleges Command in Istanbul on March 28, 2016.
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Erdogan, right, kicks a soccer ball while Former Turkish President Abdullah Gul watches at Besiktas soccer club's new Vodafone Arena on its opening day in Istanbul on April 10, 2016.
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Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan, right, shakes hands with King Salman of Saudi Arabia after the Saudi monarch received Turkey's highest state medal during a ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on April 12, 2016.
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Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan, center, chairs the meeting of the 65th Cabinet of Turkey at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on May 25, 2016.
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Erdogan, seventh from the left, attends the Kinaliada Corvette Ceremony at Pendik Naval Shipyard in Istanbul on June 18, 2016.
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Erdogan, right, attends an Iftar dinner during his visit to the Tank Battalion campus in the Cizre district of Sirnak, Turkey, on June 25, 2016.
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From left, U.S. President Barack Obama, France's President Francois Hollande, Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel take their positions for a photo ahead of a working dinner at the presidential palace during the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, on July 8, 2016.
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Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via a FaceTime call in Istanbul on Friday, July 15, 2016, after members of the country's military attempted to overthrow the government.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/15/asia/turkey-military-action/index.html

 

[shah1398]

“I do not see any country that would stand behind this man, this leader of the terrorist gang, especially after last night. The country that would stand behind this man is no friend to Turkey. It would even be a hostile act against Turkey,”Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım told reporters on Saturday, as Turkey was recovering from overnight violence.

Like I had beens saying since quite long that Uncle Sam would stab U at the back when they think its about time. Hope their so called "New Friend" learn some lessons from this.

 

[litman]

are there any lessons for Pak leadership in this?

 

[Eagel star]

When Quran mention it 1400 year ago then why Muslim still became fool they are never friend of us and even China is not ur friend when Muslim hood coming

 

[Flynn Swagmire]

When Quran mention it 1400 year ago then why Muslim still became fool they are never friend of us and even China is not ur friend when Muslim hood coming

The verse please?

 

[GuardianRED]

and in a months time - all is forgotten and another u - turn

Natural of World Politics!

 

[Eagel star]

The verse please?

Surah maidah ayat 51

 

[T-Rex]

When Quran mention it 1400 year ago then why Muslim still became fool they are never friend of us and even China is not ur friend when Muslim hood coming

There's also precedence of strategic alliance with even the Jews by our Holy Prophet (pbuh). The verse of the Holy Qur'an actually warns us not to lose our heads when making allies. If the non-Muslims do not act treacherously then I believe Islam does not prohibit forming alliance with them. Since I'm not a scholar in this field therefore I should say that it is my opinion. I'm curious what your intention is but I must say that living in isolation does not help the cause if that is what you want.

 

[Flynn Swagmire]

Surah maidah ayat 51

“Oh you who be believe! Do not take the Jews and the Christians as protecting allies [lit. awliya – plural of wali, mistranslated often here as “friends” ]! Each of them are protecting allies within their own. And the one amongst you who turns to them as protecting allies, then he is one of them. And truly, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” [al-Quran, 5:51]

Quran forbid us to bow before anyone.

So what was your point?

 

[Eagel star]

“Oh you who be believe! Do not take the Jews and the Christians as protecting allies [lit. awliya – plural of wali, mistranslated often here as “friends” ]! Each of them are protecting allies within their own. And the one amongst you who turns to them as protecting allies, then he is one of them. And truly, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” [al-Quran, 5:51]

Quran forbid us to bow before anyone.

So what was your point?

We Muslim should focus on our own combined army other wise result is day clear what's going on in middle East and now turkey just tell me which country left after turkey while Isis also enter in bd

 

[Nefarious]

Ball in the US court, time to hand over the 'good' terrorist. He's useless to the US now anyway because his coup attempt failed miserably!

 

[Eagel star]

There's also precedence of strategic alliance with even the Jews by our Holy Prophet (pbuh). The verse of the Holy Qur'an actually warns us not to lose our heads when making allies. If the non-Muslims do not act treacherously then I believe Islam does not prohibit forming alliance with them. Since I'm not a scholar in this field therefore I should say that it is my opinion. I'm curious what your intention is but I must say that living in isolation does not help the cause if that is what you want.

Bro have u read what is the result of alliance we get I think current situation is tell u fruit of frenship of western

 

[T-Rex]

Bro have u read what is the result of alliance we get I think current situation is tell u fruit of frenship of western

Alliance with the west and alliance with China are not same. It is unfair to compare China with the west. If it was not for the sincere help of China Pakistan would not possibly achieve the things she has achieved. If you think alliance with the west is the problem why do you drag China in it? Can you give one example of China betraying Pakistan? So, what is your intention?

 

[xunzi]

I have no doubt that the CIA help sponsors or advice in some shape or form of this coup. It's scary. It really is.