Istanbul: Violence in Large Protest; Erdogan Defiant

Arutz Sheva ^ | 1/6/13 | Gil Ronen

[Carry_Okie]

However, the average Turk isn’t a Marxist,

When Lenin took over Russia what was the percentage of Bolsheviks and Mensheviks? Less than 10 percent. Are your 'we want to be left alone' (WWTBLA) types organized? The TKP is (and they even have a page in English, isn't that nice?). Do your WWTBLA party types have flags and signs with which to build identity? No, but the CHP is showing up for LGBT rights! Hmmm, that's going to be a real winner with your WWTBLA "party."

The last castle of democracy in Turkey, the opposition, is officially under siege. MHP is marginalized and intimidated by sex scandals. BDP lives under the threat of a closure case. CHP is next. That leaves... who? TKP.

Take your blinders off; I think this is bigger than mere WWTBLA. For example, if you think the Kurds aren't looking to take advantage of this both in Turkey and Iraq, I've got news for youse. PKK's leader Abdullah Öcalan was trained by KGB-FSB, and they're funded by drug money.

I'm not claiming to be any expert on Turkish politics, but I've got a very good nose for this type of intrigue and it looks to me like backing either side is fraught with peril, just as in Syria, albeit for different reasons. So if you think "we should do something," just remember who's in charge of "we." Communist or Islamist, I don't want Zero anywhere near this mess.

[sandboxshooter]

I don’t think we should do anything whatsoever and for the record, I don’t have blinders on...the Turks will sort this out on their own. Unlike us, they will pry themselves away from Turkish Idol and get off their ass and do something. Might not be an overthrow of AKP, but maybe significant weakening of the PM. I was there during the last 2 martial law periods and when they finally get enough of Islamists or Communists, they usually are pretty effective at it, however bloody. Unfortunately, many of their Generals/Colonels are in prison but I believe there are enough in the military that have also had enough of the situation. That’s the big question..which way will the military lean..has enough top officers been imprisoned to head off a revolt?

I know about the PKK backing and ideology but they are extremely weak right now and I don’t believe they can exploit this at all. Maybe in years past...and the Kurds in Northern Iraq (the regime) I believe are satisfied with the current arrangements and are unable militarily to do anything even if they wanted to.

As usual, while no party can stand up and hold the banner for the WWTBLA’s, the Marxists/Communists will get no significant support out of this. Again, while the average Turk isn’t Islamist, they are certainly not fans of the TKP crowd and would turn on them quick if they get out of hand, as they have in the past. They’re more akin to the Occupy movement...they may be accepted during these events and allowed to participate, but only for this event to add numbers...in my humble opinion...