WTF is going on with Turkey?

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

I saw on CNN that the army of Turkey issued a statement on their website saying, explicitly, that they're staunch defenders of secularism and will exercise their influence when necessary.

WTF? The army makes statements on its website and takes political sides? And this is a country that is being considered to join the EU? It sounds like it's unstable as hell.

[Phantom]

My understanding is there is a movement for elections in the near future that will almost certainly bring in a leader who pushes toward an Islamic theocracy

[thomez]

Originally Posted by Phantom

My understanding is there is a movement for elections in the near future that will almost certainly bring in a leader who pushes toward an Islamic theocracy

seems we have "rallied the base" so to speak

[6SpeedTA95]

There's been talk in the country of potential election fixing to get a muslim who would push towards a theocracy in the country. The people and the military are scared of such actions and for good reason. Look at Syria and Iran.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Yeah, but I don't know which is worse- country that's a theocracy or a country where the army is another branch of government.

[DosEquis]

Is this another example of people liking democracy until it generates a result they don't like? I mean, if they elect a theocratic leader...shouldn't they just man up and deal with it. Perhaps campaign to try to make sure their guy wins the votes.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by DosEquis

Is this another example of people liking democracy until it generates a result they don't like? I mean, if they elect a theocratic leader...shouldn't they just man up and deal with it. Perhaps campaign to try to make sure their guy wins the votes.

i think the major issue is there has been talk of efforts to rig the election...

[avsp]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

There's been talk in the country of potential election fixing to get a muslim who would push towards a theocracy in the country. The people and the military are scared of such actions and for good reason. Look at Syria and Iran.

isnt the bulk of the accusations of 'fixing' etc actually aimed at the secularists.

The prospect of a nation being fairly equally divded between the religious & the secular doesnt appeal, ..., just look how such a situation has paralysed internal Isreali politics. Lurching from one crisis to another , many engenered by politicos for their own limited selfish personal power agendas. OTOH such a split has yet to stifle the U.S

The continual retreat from accession talks by the EU despite the huge changes made in Turkey just serves to discredit the west & democracy in general in the eyes of many in Turkey

[DosEquis]

It aint cool bein a jive turkey... so close to elections

/tradingplaces*modified*

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by DosEquis

Is this another example of people liking democracy until it generates a result they don't like? I mean, if they elect a theocratic leader...shouldn't they just man up and deal with it. Perhaps campaign to try to make sure their guy wins the votes.

Maybe their constitution mandates a secular state and military officers swear an oath to the constitution.

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by DosEquis

Is this another example of people liking democracy until it generates a result they don't like? I mean, if they elect a theocratic leader...shouldn't they just man up and deal with it. Perhaps campaign to try to make sure their guy wins the votes.

No this is the people and the ARMY sticking up for the people. There's been a lot uncovered with election fixing in Turkey recently. Plans were uncovered that showed an elaborate election fixing plan. The people began rallying in the streets and military was in many cases protecting their right to hold these marches.

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by avsp

isnt the bulk of the accusations of 'fixing' etc actually aimed at the secularists.

The prospect of a nation being fairly equally divded between the religious & the secular doesnt appeal, ..., just look how such a situation has paralysed internal Isreali politics. Lurching from one crisis to another , many engenered by politicos for their own limited selfish personal power agendas. OTOH such a split has yet to stifle the U.S

The continual retreat from accession talks by the EU despite the huge changes made in Turkey just serves to discredit the west & democracy in general in the eyes of many in Turkey

Not from what I've heard. I've read a couple articles in the WSJ and seen it on CNN HNN a couple of times and heard a lot about it on the radio. I haven't heard anything about the secularist trying to fix the elections.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

I'm curious about Turkey when it comes to war. What if the President orders the military to fight and they don't want to? They say no? A completely autonomous military is sort of ridiculous.

[Kytro]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Yeah, but I don't know which is worse- country that's a theocracy or a country where the army is another branch of government.

That depends a great deal on how involved the armed forces are.

[Thorgrim]

Turkey's military regularly gets into a match with the government

The new islamic government has said it won't change anything, and many of Turkey's laws are very secular, not anti-muslim but anti-sharia...they don't want to change that, the military is just over-reacting