15 Jul 2016: Attempted Coup in Turkey + Aftermath

[brihard]

Sporadic news reports about a coup underway in Ankara. An acquaintance on the ground confirms something's up, troops garrisoning both bridges across the Bosporous, F-16s low overhead. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube blocked.

Anyone got anything more solid?

- mod edit to bring thread title into line with latest developments/information -

 

[Altair]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/attempted-military-coup-underway-turkey/story?id=40618135

Coup attempt in our oh so stable ally in Turkey.

Which still makes me wonder how we are allied to them

 

[Michael OLeary]

Reddit live feed:

https://www.reddit.com/live/x9gf3donjlkq

 

[Rifleman62]

It is on FOX News now with reports and video. The Pres/PM or whatever has not been seen  for six days which is reportedly very unusual as he is usually "on" every two days or less.

 

[The Bread Guy]

According to AP (usual initial report caveats, of course), TUR's PM alleges it's only an "attempted" coup:

Turkey’s prime minister says a group within Turkey’s military has engaged in what appeared to be an attempted coup.

Binali Yildirim told NTV television: “it is correct that there was an attempt.”

Yildirim didn’t provide details, but said Turkey would never allow any “initiative that would interrupt democracy.” ...

Same line from the Financial Times -- we'll see if he's right  ;D

 

[dapaterson]

CBC article, undergoing frequent updates: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ankara-turkey-gunshot-military-coup-1.3681441

 

[Altair]

A well run military operation ongoing at the moment.

 

[gryphonv]

If it turns out to be a true military coup, does NATO have to respond?

 

[Altair]

If it turns out to be a true military coup, does NATO have to respond?

Considering how western leaders feel about erdogan, not a chance in hell.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Updates from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-36811357

 

[jmt18325]

Turkish military says it has 'fully seized control' of the country

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ankara-turkey-gunshot-military-coup-1.3681441

 

[gryphonv]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mq5hrUDoYo

Fox live stream.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

If it turns out to be a true military coup, does NATO have to respond?

Why?

Military coups in Turkey are dime a dozen. I think this is the fourth, maybe fifth one in my lifetime. And all of them occurred with Turkey in NATO, and it remained in NATO all that time.

So it's (almost) business as usual for other countries of Europe and Western powers.

And BTW, many of those interventions by the military in Turkey have occurred because, and when, the military felt that the government of the day was straying too far from the original secular character of the country imposed by its founding constitution and going too far towards favouring Islamic practices as the public norm. On that basis, one can almost say that Mr. Erdogan had it coming.

 

[George Wallace]

CTV New Channel is covering it at the moment.

 

[PuckChaser]

Now the question is, is the takeover because the Turks quietly allowed assistance to ISIL through its borders, or because they didn't assist ISIL enough?

This has large implications on IMPACT, thats either a large open border, or a now firmly closed one.

 

[Kirkhill]

The Telegraph's Live Stream:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/15/turkey-low-flying-jets-and-gunfire-heard-in-ankara1/

Maybe Boris won't have to apologize for his poesy after all.

I’m pleased to announce that we have a winner of The Spectator’s President Erdogan Offensive Poetry competition, and here it is:

There was a young fellow from Ankara
Who was a terrific wankerer
Till he sowed his wild oats
With the help of a goat
But he didn’t even stop to thankera.


The author of this winning entry is former Mayor of London and chief Brexiteer, Boris Johnson MP.

You don't suppose.....?  No.  He's only been in office one day.... Right?

 

[jollyjacktar]

I am hopeful the Islamists are getting their wings clipped and the military is taking the country back towards secularism.

 

[jmt18325]

Talking from an unknown location over FaceTime definitely shows that you're in control.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Facebook report from an hour ago:

https://www.facebook.com/oz.katerji/videos/1123090111092327/

 

[The Bread Guy]

A few tidbits VERY much on the fly ...

• "Horror in Turkey as F-16 Shoots Down Helicopter, Forces Massacre Civilians" (Russian state media)
• "Martial Law, Curfew Imposed in Turkey Amid Coup Attempt" (ABC News - U.S.)
• "Erdogan asks Turkish people to thwart coup attempt" (CNN)
• "Flights diverted, canceled as coup attempt unfolds in Turkey" (Reuters, via UK Daily Mail)
• "A Short History of Modern Turkey’s Military Coups" (Time.com)