Military Coup Attempt Reported in Turkey

World • Views: 49,285

This could be a very big deal; reports are coming out of Turkey that there’s been an attempted military coup.

Yildirim says “it would be wrong to call it a coup” but that there has been an attempt by “part of the military”.

He describes it as an “illegal attempt” to seize power.

Social media has been blocked:

UPDATE at 7/15/16 1:20:31 pm by Charles Johnson
UPDATE at 7/15/16 2:07:52 pm by Charles Johnson

Turkish military sources are now claiming they’re in control of the government.

UPDATE at 7/15/16 2:34:27 pm by Charles Johnson
UPDATE at 7/15/16 2:45:12 pm by Charles Johnson

Jump to bottom

578 comments
1
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:19:34pm

Lots of tweets.

Little information.

2
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:20:38pm
3
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:20:41pm

This could be huge - the last successful coup d’etat in Turkey was back in 1997. From what I’d been led to understand, Erdogan had largely purged the Turkish military and replaced their leadership with loyalists, so this is probably an attempt by some mid-level or junior officers.

Either that, or Erdogan overlooked a couple of colonels.

4
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:20:51pm

re: #1 wrenchwench

Little information.

That won’t stop the ferret-headed anus-mouth troll-baby from loudly having an opinion on it.

5
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:21:03pm

LGF posted about this before my friend in Istanbul even knew about anything.

6
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:22:10pm

re: #5 GlutenFreeJesus

LGF posted about this before my friend in Istanbul even knew about anything.

Come for the breaking news. Stay for the music and photos.

7
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:22:20pm

I texted her. She thought I was kidding. Now, not so much. Things are pretty dicey. Nobody really knows anything.

8
Single-handed sailor  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:22:54pm
9
Jay C  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:23:30pm

re: #1 wrenchwench

Lots of tweets.

[Embedded content]

Little information.

But what there is comes in almost in real time: News As It Happens (as some TV station had to said at some time)!

10
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:23:59pm

re: #4 Testy Toad T

That won’t stop the ferret-headed anus-mouth troll-baby from loudly having an opinion on it.

I suppose ferret-headed is what makes this specific to Trump. Everything else is pretty much generic (R) these days.

11
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:24:18pm

re: #8 Single-handed sailor

Which part of this comment is modified by “supposedly”? That’s definitely a tank, and definitely an airport…

12
De Kolta Chair  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:24:38pm
13
Belafon  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:26:45pm

re: #12 De Kolta Chair

So, Twitter and Facebook are actually doing what they were originally meant to do.

14
b_sharp  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:26:58pm

re: #6 lawhawk

Come for the breaking news. Stay for the music and photos.

Pie.

15
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:27:01pm

re: #11 Testy Toad T

Which part of this comment is modified by “supposedly”? That’s definitely a tank, and definitely an airport…

This guy tweets up a storm, and as I recall, got kicked out of Turkey, which means A.) he was doing something right, and B.) he can’t do it so right anymore.

16
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:27:12pm

Sheesh! “military action without chain of command”

Sounds like a coup to me.

17
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:28:14pm

re: #16 Shiplord Kirel

Sheesh! “military action without chain of command”

Sounds like a coup to me.

That’s pretty much the definition of a coup.

18
Tigger2  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:28:18pm
19
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:28:31pm

re: #16 Shiplord Kirel

Sheesh! “military action without chain of command”

Sounds like a coup to me.

It’s a coup only if it succeeds.

20
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:29:09pm

re: #19 EPR-radar

It’s a coup only if it succeeds.

When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die.

21
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:29:39pm
22
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:30:09pm
23
Jay C  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:30:41pm

re: #17 Dr Lizardo

That’s pretty much the definition of a coup.

Maybe just me, but at this point it sounds more like the definition of a “mutiny”.

Not a good thing, either way.

24
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:31:19pm

re: #22 Backwoods_Sleuth

I can’t wait for the insight into events in Turkey that will be provided on Twitter by the Mouth of the GOP Base.

25
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:32:58pm
26
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:32:58pm
27
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:33:06pm

The Turkish Armed Forces are now saying they are in command of the country. The government is denying it.

Someone - anyone - please keep the human Cheeto away from Twitter.

28
steve_davis  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:33:07pm

as I recall, the military is extremely secular. If they get even a whiff that Erdogan and company are playing to Islamic extremists, they’ll oust them. Even his power play against the media might have been enough to inspire a coup.

29
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:33:15pm

re: #20 Big Beautiful Door

Hey, sometimes you win by dying. Or die by winning. Heck, it’s GRRM. Everyone dies. Even if you win or lose. He’s the master of Twitter because he kills 140 characters at a time.

30
blueraven  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:33:18pm

re: #1 wrenchwench

Lots of tweets.

Little information.

There’s a man with a gun over there…

31
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:34:44pm

re: #5 GlutenFreeJesus

LGF posted about this before my friend in Istanbul even knew about anything.

re: #6 lawhawk

Come for the breaking news. Stay for the music and photos.

That’s the beauty of the internet right there. It is hard to keep info down.

32
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:35:00pm

Live feed from Sky News:

Sky News Live

33
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:36:00pm
34
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:36:02pm

re: #14 b_sharp

Pie.

Pizza Pie…and some good food talk.

35
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:36:03pm

Nobody has seen Erdogan.

And Twitter is actually down now. Whether they shut it down or Turkey’s internet is becoming overloaded, don’t know. Things have slowed to a crawl.

36
CuriousLurker  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:36:22pm

re: #23 Jay C

Maybe just me, but at this point it sounds more like the definition of a “mutiny”.

Not a good thing, either way.

Yeah, ‘cause just what the Muslim world needs is a little more instability.

37
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:36:52pm

re: #19 EPR-radar

It’s a coup only if it succeeds.

I was waiting for more use of the word attempt.

38
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:37:59pm
39
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:38:34pm

re: #37 ObserverArt

I was waiting for more use of the word attempt.

If a coup fails, the victors usually write the history so that it isn’t even an “attempted coup”.

40
Jay C  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:38:39pm

re: #36 CuriousLurker

Yeah, ‘cause just what the Muslim world needs is a little more instability.

I may have spoken too soon: now it really does look like a “coup”:

41
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:39:00pm
42
CuriousLurker  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:39:31pm

E gad, I can’t watch. I was in the middle of setting up my Ruko channels when I got distracted and came over here, so I’m gonna go try to chill and finish that.

BBL

43
Single-handed sailor  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:39:37pm

My feed of TRT1 went blank. It was there about 5 minutes ago, now it’s just a logo.

44
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:40:19pm
45
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:40:41pm

re: #43 Single-handed sailor

My feed of TRT1 went blank. It was there about 5 minutes ago, now it’s just a logo.

The Army has apparently taken the TRT offices.

46
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:41:34pm

re: #44 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

The bridge is lit in French colors for Nice.

47
Tigger2  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:42:13pm

Would like to have one of these.

Facebook

48
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:42:16pm
49
blueraven  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:43:23pm

Andrea Mitchell says Erdoğan is on vacation so good time for a coup.

Boy, I really didn’t see this one coming. He has been pretty terrible, promising to be more secular then doing the complete opposite. Thought things were improving though.

50
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:44:30pm
51
Robert O.  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:44:39pm

Turkey’s military is fiercely secular. Under Erdogan, Turkey’s elected government has increasingly aligned itself with Islam. Insofar as the Syrian/Iraqi civil war is concerned, Turkey still thinks there is such a thing as “good Islamists” versus “bad Islamists”. Erdogan is an impediment in the fight against the ISIS.

Let’s be clear: while democratically elected secular government is best, if it ever came to a choice between secular military dictatorship which embraces modernity versus democratically elected theocracy, then far better to have secular military dictatorship. At a stretch, this applies even for the US!

52
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:44:45pm
53
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:45:18pm

OT - from Planned Parenthood of NY.

Bravo

54
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:46:26pm

re: #52 goddamnedfrank

That is horrible, yet funny.

I’ll take it.

re: #51 Robert O.

Erdogan has been trying to dismantle the Democratic part of the State. This could be a good thing.

55
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:46:43pm

re: #50 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

trumps like, the only coup I want to talk about is the one in my family!

56
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:46:44pm

re: #52 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

Dammit, that just made me choke on my coffee I got to laughing so hard.

57
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:46:50pm

To Europe, though.

58
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:47:03pm

re: #39 EPR-radar

If a coup fails, the victors usually write the history so that it isn’t even an “attempted coup”.

Just flipped on MSNBC and they are running bottom screen banner saying “Turkish PM: Attempted Military Coup Underway.

I kind of figured the “outside” world would use it.

59
gwangung  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:47:25pm

re: #53 Stanley Sea

OT - from Planned Parenthood of NY.

Bravo

[Embedded content]

Slow clap.

60
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:48:04pm

re: #54 Ziggy_TARDIS

No. Coups are never a good thing. Turkey has free elections. That’s how you make change.

61
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:48:40pm

What matters is Ankara, not Istanbul. If they’ve got Ankara, they’ve got the country.

62
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:48:54pm

Looks like the Gulen Movement is behind this.

63
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:48:56pm
64
Single-handed sailor  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:49:03pm
65
Interesting Times  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:49:11pm

re: #51 Robert O.

Turkey’s military is fiercely secular. Under Erdogan, Turkey’s elected government has increasingly aligned itself with Islam. Insofar as the Syrian/Iraqi civil war is concerned, Turkey still thinks there is such a thing as “good Islamists” versus “bad Islamists”. Erdogan is an impediment in the fight against the ISIS.

Let’s be clear: while democratically elected secular government is best, if it ever came to a choice between secular military dictatorship which embraces modernity versus democratically elected theocracy, then far better to have secular military dictatorship. At a stretch, this applies even for the US!

Shades of the Egypt/Muslim Brotherhood fiasco. Hopefully things will turn out better for Turkey…

66
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:49:30pm

re: #53 Stanley Sea

OT - from Planned Parenthood of NY.

Bravo

[Embedded content]

Heh. I did this one earlier.

Practicing Safe Photoshopping of Logos
67
I Would Prefer Not To  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:49:40pm

re: #65 Interesting Times

Shades of the Egypt/Muslim Brotherhood fiasco. Hopefully things will turn out better for Turkey…

Is it to soon to blame Obama?

68
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:49:51pm

re: #60 GlutenFreeJesus

Elections that have huge irregularities and corruption.

69
Single-handed sailor  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:50:00pm
70
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:50:03pm

re: #60 GlutenFreeJesus

No. Coups are never a good thing. Turkey has free elections. That’s how you make change.

Coups are never a good thing, but sometimes the other options may be worse.

71
451_Montag  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:50:12pm

Repost from dead thread (Why does it always happen to me?)

72
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:50:22pm

re: #62 Ziggy_TARDIS

And he’s exiled here in the US. It’s a huge matter of contention between Turkey and the US.

73
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:50:28pm
74
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:51:12pm

re: #68 Ziggy_TARDIS

According to the losers. ;)

75
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:51:17pm

re: #51 Robert O.

Turkey’s military is fiercely secular.

It is, and it’s deliberate - one of the Turkish military’s objectives has been the preservation of the country’s secular identity, which Erdogan has slowly eroded since coming into power.
In Israel atm and pretty much everyone is observing every tiny scrap of information coming from Ankara - especially since there are always Israeli tourists in the country.

76
calochortus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:51:18pm

re: #67 I Would Prefer Not To

Is it to soon to blame Obama?

It’s never too soon. You know that.

77
danarchy  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:52:54pm

What does a military coup in a NATO country mean? What are our obligations, any? Do they get to stay in NATO, do we recognize the new military government(assuming the coup succeeds)

78
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:52:55pm

re: #51 Robert O.

Turkey’s military is fiercely secular. Under Erdogan, Turkey’s elected government has increasingly aligned itself with Islam. Insofar as the Syrian/Iraqi civil war is concerned, Turkey still thinks there is such a thing as “good Islamists” versus “bad Islamists”. Erdogan is an impediment in the fight against the ISIS.

Let’s be clear: while democratically elected secular government is best, if it ever came to a choice between secular military dictatorship which embraces modernity versus democratically elected theocracy, then far better to have secular military dictatorship. At a stretch, this applies even for the US!

This kind of thing makes the weakness of Ataturk’s secularization and modernization of Turkey very clear. It was imposed by force, and most of the country never bought into it.

79
Tigger2  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:53:10pm

Don’t know how true this is.

80
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:53:33pm

re: #77 danarchy

What does a military coup in a NATO country mean? What are our obligations, any? Do they get to stay in NATO, do we recognize the new military government(assuming the coup succeeds)

There have been coups in Turkey before while it was a NATO member state.

81
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:53:37pm

They Might Be Giants - “Instanbul (Not Constantinople)”

82
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:53:58pm
83
Jay C  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:54:14pm

re: #75 Archangelus

It is, and it’s deliberate - one of the Turkish military’s objectives has been the preservation of the country’s secular identity, which Erdogan has slowly eroded since coming into power.
In Israel atm and pretty much everyone is observing every tiny scrap of information coming from Ankara - especially since there are always Israeli tourists in the country.

Didn’t Turkey and Israel just (as in last week or so) resume normal trade/travel relations, after a few years iciness over the Gaza ferry incident in 2010?

84
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:54:46pm

re: #79 Tigger2

[Embedded content]

No fucking way…….I thought Erdogan was out of the country at some summit meeting. If that’s true, holy shit, that’s the big time.

85
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:55:38pm

re: #80 Dr Lizardo

Yeah. Turkey has been a part since 1952.

86
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:56:14pm

re: #83 Jay C

Didn’t Turkey and Israel just (as in last week or so) resume normal trade/travel relations, after a few years iciness over the ferry incident in 2013(?)

Yeah, about a week or so ago.

87
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:57:05pm
88
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:57:07pm

re: #79 Tigger2

Don’t know how true this is.

[Embedded content]

Turkish Chief of Staff pretty much confirmed captive according to multiple sources, no confirmation on Erdogan’s status yet

89
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:57:22pm

re: #77 danarchy

What does a military coup in a NATO country mean? What are our obligations, any? Do they get to stay in NATO, do we recognize the new military government(assuming the coup succeeds)

This is a good question. A quick read of the Treaty (it’s refreshingly short, to-the-point, and direct) seems to suggest that it’s very careful to emphasize that international conflicts are what can invoke Article 5. Article 4 seems relevant, though:

The Parties [member nations] will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.

90
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:57:33pm

re: #81 goddamnedfrank

Honestly, I think the best name for it is Kostantiniyye.

91
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:57:40pm

re: #70 Testy Toad T

No argument there.

92
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:57:51pm

Erdogan’s twitter feed has been quiet for last 12 hours.

twitter.com

93
Tigger2  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:58:24pm
94
A Mom Anon  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:58:30pm

re: #53 Stanley Sea

This is THE best thing I’ve seen all afternoon. I adore it. I want to hug it.

95
makeitstop  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:58:35pm

re: #92 lawhawk

Erdogan’s twitter feed has been quiet for last 12 hours.

twitter.com

Could we get him to give Trump a few pointers on that?

96
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:58:38pm

re: #83 Jay C

Didn’t Turkey and Israel just (as in last week or so) resume normal trade/travel relations, after a few years iciness over the ferry incident in 2013(?)

Yep, literally a week ago, against the desires of MANY in the country on all political sides. If Erdogan’s regime really is done, the backlash against Netanyahu and his government for capitulating to him will be off the charts…

97
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:59:35pm
98
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:59:35pm

re: #96 Archangelus

Yep, literally a week ago, against the desires of MANY in the country on all political sides. If Erdogan’s regime really is done, the backlash against Netanyahu and his government for capitulating to him will be off the charts…

Any world event that shits all over Bibi is fine by me.

/half

99
blueraven  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:59:42pm
100
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:59:49pm

re: #96 Archangelus

Could it cause a fall of Government?

101
William Lewis  Jul 15, 2016 • 1:59:52pm

re: #51 Robert O.

At a stretch, this applies even for the US!

Ah, no. Not even close. Any election can be recovered from; a coup would destroy the nation by destroying the absolute “civilian authority is superior to military authority” rule of law in it.

102
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:00:09pm

re: #99 blueraven

Meaning?

103
b_sharp  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:00:16pm

So…

Anything interesting happening in the world this week?

104
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:00:17pm

re: #67 I Would Prefer Not To

Is it to soon to blame Obama?

Somewhere in the world it is Blame Obama O’Clock. You may be late!

105
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:00:27pm

re: #99 blueraven

FYI for those unfamiliar: Delta is as high as it goes.

FPCON DELTA describes a situation when a terrorist attack is taking place or has just occurred in the immediate area. FPCON Delta usually occurs only in the areas that are most vulnerable to or have been attacked. One notable example of a general FPCON Delta was directly following the September 11, 2001 attacks, when all military installations were placed at FPCON Delta and restricted to only military personnel. Force Protection Level I Antiterrorism Training defines FPCON Delta as: FPCON Delta applies when a terrorist attack has occurred or when intelligence indicates imminent terrorist action against a specific location. FPCON Delta is normally declared as a localized warning. The installation moves to a high state of alert, and mandatory security measures are implemented. Commanders are also authorized and encouraged to supplement mandatory security measures. FPCON Delta may cause delayed or canceled mission activities. You can expect delays and interruptions to daily routines.

106
A Mom Anon  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:01:07pm

re: #76 calochortus

Hell, they Pre-Blame him whenever possible, so I’m sure this is his fault AND Shillary’s too.

107
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:01:35pm

re: #102 Ziggy_TARDIS

They’re on the highest state of alert. It’s the condition when a terror attack has occurred in vicinity.

108
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:02:05pm
109
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:02:07pm

re: #100 Ziggy_TARDIS

Could it cause a fall of Government?

Doubt it, but hey, I live in hope…

110
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:02:09pm

re: #101 William Lewis

Ah, no. Not even close. Any election can be recovered from; a coup would destroy the nation by destroying the absolute “civilian authority is superior to military authority” rule of law in it.

In the US, certainly. But let’s keep in mind that under Turkey’s Constitution, the Turkish Armed Forces are the guarantor of secular democracy. I can’t remember when they wrote that little tidbit in, but they did, and it was a long time ago, IIRC.

111
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:02:23pm

re: #99 blueraven

[Embedded content]

Yikes.

112
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:02:32pm
113
b_sharp  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:02:46pm

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

114
Tigger2  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:02:58pm
115
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:03:05pm
116
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:03:13pm
117
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:03:32pm

re: #99 blueraven

[Embedded content]

Incirlik is where the bombs are.

This is fun!

118
De Kolta Chair  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:04:04pm

Trump tweeted his veep choice six hours ago and hasn’t been heard from since. Coup?

119
Dr. Matt  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:04:05pm

Actual quote from a Turkish colleague:

All I can say is, “wow”. Totally unexpected…even though we had 4 coups over the last century.

120
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:04:41pm

re: #110 Dr Lizardo

In the US, certainly. But let’s keep in mind that under Turkey’s Constitution, the Turkish Armed Forces are the guarantor of secular democracy. I can’t remember when they wrote that little tidbit in, but they did, and it was a long time ago, IIRC.

Probably right at the founding. Ataturk wanted a secular and modern Turkey without the bother of winning hearts and minds to support this idea.

Edited to add: That’s a bit unfair. Serious attempts to persuade the general population to support this revolution were made. However, giving the role of guarantor of secular democracy to the military shows a (probably justified) lack of confidence in sufficient popular support for the revolution.

121
Jay C  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:04:48pm

re: #96 Archangelus

Yep, literally a week ago, against the desires of MANY in the country on all political sides. If Erdogan’s regime really is done, the backlash against Netanyahu and his government for capitulating to him will be off the charts…

“Capitulating” to Erdogan for what?
And why would a post-Erdogan (presumably military, at first) government (assuming they aren’t busy with other matters) want to significantly change their relations with Israel?

122
Ming5000  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:05:00pm

re: #99 blueraven

“Force Protection Condition Delta,” sounds serious!

123
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:05:20pm

re: #110 Dr Lizardo

In the US, certainly. But let’s keep in mind that under Turkey’s Constitution, the Turkish Armed Forces are the guarantor of secular democracy. I can’t remember when they wrote that little tidbit in, but they did, and it was a long time ago, IIRC.

It was Ataturk’s idea to insert that provision.

124
Dr. Matt  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:06:07pm

If Hillary named her VP just hours before a military coup, Fox news would be “connecting the dots”.

125
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:06:11pm

re: #117 goddamnedfrank

Incirlik is where the bombs are.

This is fun!

I suspect the Turkish military wants absolutely nothing to do with those devices. This is one of those scenarios where decades of interoperation are a good thing. Pretty much everyone in any command role has worked directly with US forces through his or her career.

126
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:06:31pm

Pre-emptive strike:

Shut up, Trump.

127
Dr. Matt  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:06:34pm

re: #122 Ming5000

“Force Protection Condition Delta,” sounds serious!

I loved that Chuck Norris movie.

128
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:07:09pm

re: #123 Shiplord Kirel

It was Ataturk’s idea to insert that provision.

Thanks for the clarification. I knew it had been a long time, so pretty much since the foundation of the Turkish Republic.

129
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:07:15pm

re: #112 goddamnedfrank

thebulletin.org

The nuclear weapons are stored at Incirlik. Given that they’re now at Force Condition Delta, that means that US forces are making sure those weapons are secured and wont fall into the wrong hands.

130
blueraven  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:08:15pm

Heh

131
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:08:31pm

re: #110 Dr Lizardo

In the US, certainly. But let’s keep in mind that under Turkey’s Constitution, the Turkish Armed Forces are the guarantor of secular democracy. I can’t remember when they wrote that little tidbit in, but they did, and it was a long time ago, IIRC.

REALLY long time ago, we’re talking in the days of the modern country’s foundation, somewhere in the 1960s. Not the first time this has happened either - there were a few occasions in the country’s past where the military intervened to remove political leaderships that were on the verge of harming the country’s secular identity. Back in 2006-2007, it seemed like there would be another attempt against Erdogan but he succeeded in weakening the military and imprisoning key military officials.
So this move comes as quite a surprise (one that many would consider pleasant, i might add - Erdogan’s efforts to reduce secular government aspects and increase Islamic influences aside, he’s insanely corrupt and was deemed untouchable until today).

132
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:08:33pm

re: #117 goddamnedfrank

Incirlik is where the bombs are.

This is fun!

Yup, just NNW of the runway in the compound with all of the “igloos” in it. (Incirlik is in Adana, BTW, Lizardom).

133
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:09:57pm

re: #125 Testy Toad T

I suspect the Turkish military wants absolutely nothing to do with those devices. This is one of those scenarios where decades of interoperation are a good thing. Pretty much everyone in any command role has worked directly with US forces through his or her career.

Yes, but nonetheless we should get those devices the fuck out of the country immediately. We probably should’ve removed them a few years ago when Erdogan first starting going Roger Rabbit on us. I don’t want those devices anywhere near this kind of instability.

134
Eric The Fruit Bat  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:10:25pm

From over at Naked Capitalism:

From a friend in Ankara minutes ago, “Oh shit, this has all the hallmarks of a fight between two fractions within the state. It’s said that Fethullah Gulen and his supporters in the military tried this because of the imminent purge. There was a armed clash in Ankara between the military forces (Gulen movement) and tgr police/intelligence agency (Tayyip). It’s been going for a while, this feud. Now it seems like it’s grown a full blown war. Airports are also closed. “

135
KingKenrod  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:10:26pm
136
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:11:23pm

re: #130 blueraven

I swear to God I thought Turkeys could fly!

137
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:11:40pm

Granted because of the permissive action links without the codes there really ain’t anything you can do with a US nuclear weapon except wrap it in a shit ton of explosives and turn it into a dirty bomb. But that’s scary enough.

138
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:12:30pm

More on the Gülen Movement.

en.m.wikipedia.org

He’s exiled here in the US.

139
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:12:39pm
140
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:13:01pm

I experienced a power outage in Istanbul many years ago.

141
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:13:16pm

Nation-wide curfew just announced in Turkey - to no one’s surprise really…

142
danarchy  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:13:56pm

re: #136 EPR-radar

I swear to God I thought Turkeys could fly!

WKRP “As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly” Thanksgiving

That and the phone police have to be the 2 best episodes.

143
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:13:58pm

re: #139 Charles Johnson

Off camera, she’s got a gun pointed at her.

144
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:14:04pm

re: #137 goddamnedfrank

Granted because of the permissive action links without the codes there’s really ain’t anything you can do with a US nuclear bomb except wrap it in a shit ton of explosives and turn it into a dirty bomb. But that’s scary enough.

About a hundredth as scary as Pakistan’s arsenal, but that’s still enough to count as scary.

145
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:14:05pm

re: #136 EPR-radar

I swear to God I thought Turkeys could fly!

Upding for the WKRP reference.

146
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:14:19pm
147
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:15:11pm

re: #138 GlutenFreeJesus

Is your friend safe in a hotel?

148
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:15:19pm

re: #146 Charles Johnson

It sounds bad in English. I wish I spoke Turkish and had a better feel for the weight of the words they actually used.

149
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:15:50pm
150
dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:16:25pm

waiting for trump to congratulate turkey on taking back its country so it can ban muslim immigration and stop the creeping islamic influence on its culture

151
b_sharp  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:17:05pm

Does this mean they accept evolution or they don’t accept evolution?

152
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:17:18pm

re: #147 Stanley Sea

Family house. They are ok now. Thank you. Right when this started they tried to go across the street to the bakery. It was already cleared out. They are a bit upset about this. Thinking Erdogan forces vs Gülen forces = civil war. I really hope not. I love that country.

153
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:17:25pm

re: #137 goddamnedfrank

Granted because of the permissive action links without the codes there’s really ain’t anything you can do with a US nuclear bomb except wrap it in a shit ton of explosives and turn it into a dirty bomb. But that’s scary enough.

Well, they would have to get one first, which means going through a bunch of very heavily armed APs and Marines who are exceedingly pissed off that they are stuck in Adana.

154
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:17:31pm

re: #149 Backwoods_Sleuth

I wonder how long until the AKP is formally proscribed and declared an illegal organization?

I give it 48 hours.

155
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:18:02pm

Yet another reminder:

Trump and Pence have absolutely no foreign policy experience between the two of them, and their foreign policy advisers are best known for having ties to the Pakistani ISI and Russians. Woo! Paul Manafort, I’m looking at you bub. But they are Islamophobes, like Walid Phares, so you can bet they’ll be quick to jump on that line.

156
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:18:33pm

re: #154 Dr Lizardo

Good.

157
Jay C  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:19:47pm

re: #149 Backwoods_Sleuth

Announcer on Turkey’s TRT says new constitution to be prepared as soon as possible

Not good: whenever coup-plotters start talking about a “new constitution” , it’s almost never a positive sign.

And the fact that someone announces the new one “ASAP”, it usually means either:
1) They have one already written.
2) They aren’t planning on issuing one in any case.

158
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:20:18pm
An announcement on the Turkish state broadcaster TRT says that a curfew has been declared across Turkey and that airports are closed. The announcer says they are being made to read a statement by the military.

The statement promises a new constitution for the country and says that democracy and the secular rule of law had been undermined. Martial law has also been imposed, it adds.

Live blog here: theguardian.com

159
danarchy  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:20:27pm

re: #155 lawhawk

Yet another reminder:

Trump and Pence have absolutely no foreign policy experience between the two of them, and their foreign policy advisers are best known for having ties to the Pakistani ISI and Russians. Woo! Paul Manafort, I’m looking at you bub. But they are Islamophobes, like Walid Phares, so you can bet they’ll be quick to jump on that line.

Wasn’t Pence a member of the foreign affairs committee in congress?

160
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:21:14pm

Trump will use this as an excuse to get us out of NATO.

161
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:21:14pm
162
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:22:03pm
163
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:22:47pm

re: #159 danarchy

House Foreign Affairs Committee. Yeah, caught that. Missed that in his background. Focused on his governorship and missed his Congressional background.

164
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:22:48pm

re: #157 Jay C

Normally i’d be in agreement, however in this case it’s more likely to be a return to the old constitution - which Erdogan had effectively altered (increased authority of the President’s office and removal of power limits to make him essentially dictator for life, and effectively eradicating the secular nature of the government and the military’s power as the protector of the nation’s secularism and democracy).

165
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:25:28pm

I want to note that Turkey has also recently had a rash of Terror Attacks.

166
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:27:41pm

re: #164 Archangelus

Turkey is probably the one place where “military coup” isn’t necessarily grounds for an immediate “oh shit” but slightly more of a “wait and see.”

167
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:28:09pm

Such beautiful research, the best research ever!

168
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:29:02pm

Meanwhile, on this side of Planet Crazy:

Franklin Graham: Dump Target Stock for Luring in ‘Sexual Perverts’

“Evangelist Franklin Graham has called on shareholders of Target to dump their stock — saying the department store’s policy regarding the use of its bathrooms by transgender people invites “sexual perverts into their stores.”

169
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:29:59pm

re: #167 Stanley Sea

Such beautiful research, the best research ever!

[Embedded content]

It’s always so problematic when GOP leaders forget who they are and accidentally help government work for a moment.

170
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:30:17pm
171
De Kolta Chair  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:30:37pm
172
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:30:39pm
173
HappyWarrior  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:31:07pm

re: #168 Shiplord Kirel

Meanwhile, on this side of Planet Crazy:

Franklin Graham: Dump Target Stock for Luring in ‘Sexual Perverts’

He should be more worried about what his fellow Republicans and Christian conservatives do in bathrooms.

174
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:31:13pm

re: #172 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

How many screens am I looking through right now? Three? More?

175
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:31:15pm

Mass phone call by Erdogan. Telling his supporters to take to the streets.

My friend was souring on him but this has changed her to support him 100% again. “He got 51% of the vote.”

Sigh.

176
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:31:27pm

re: #170 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

Facetime is how you know he’s fucked.

177
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:32:01pm

re: #174 Testy Toad T

It’s computer screens all the way down.

178
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:32:22pm

Anyone hearing reports Erdogan is trying to fly to Germany to get out of Turkey?

179
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:32:28pm

re: #175 GlutenFreeJesus

Mass phone call by Erdogan. Telling his supporters to take to the streets.

My friend was souring on him but this has changed her to support him 100% again. “He got 51% of the vote.”

Sigh.

That looks like a sign of weakness to me.

180
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:32:31pm

re: #178 ObserverArt

Anyone hearing reports Erdogan is trying to fly to Germany to get out of Turkey?

yes

181
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:32:42pm
182
Frankie Five Angels  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:32:53pm

re: #150 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

I’m waiting for Trump to take credit.

183
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:33:42pm

re: #180 Backwoods_Sleuth

yes

There are unconfirmed reports that Erdogan is apparently trying to flee the country.

184
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:33:45pm
185
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:34:16pm

Dow Futures only down 53 points right now. I’d have expected much worse. The market seems ambivalent so far.

186
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:35:13pm

re: #178 ObserverArt

Sudan.

187
Ming5000  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:35:53pm

I am pretty sure one of the first rules of a coup is to get the President in your mitts immediately.

188
danarchy  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:36:54pm

re: #184 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

They couldn’t have done their facetime call on a desktop so they didn’t have to hold a damn cell phone up on TV…amateurs

189
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:37:37pm

re: #185 goddamnedfrank

Dow Futures only down 53 points right now. I’d have expected much worse. The market seems ambivalent so far.

Were I a betting man, I’d guess that a lot of people are seeing this as an instance of the system working as it has always worked, which in a weird way is sort of stabilizing.

190
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:37:45pm

re: #186 GlutenFreeJesus

Sudan.

Wait, what? Is he exposed to an ICC indictment I’m not aware of? Nobody flees to the fucking Sudan if they have other options.

191
dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:37:51pm

“If they thought they were going to have the nice, unified kumbaya show, they just completely guaranteed they’re not going to have it,” said Kendal Unruh, a GOP delegate from Colorado who led an anti-Trump group

192
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:38:03pm
193
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:38:44pm

Meanwhile, back here in the US, it appears that the GOP is facing a coup of its own - or at least a possible insurgency because Trump’s overtly taking over the party and offering to do the stuff the rest of the GOP only talks about in hushed tones behind closed doors.

194
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:40:31pm

Freepers are blaming Obama. They are not entirely sure what to blame him for, but it has to be his fault whatever it is.
Turkish Military Says It Has Taken Over Country
Some are suggesting that US officers emulate their Turkish colleagues and remove our Islamist usurper from office.

Yes, they are that crazy.

Freep is like a newsfeed from an alternate universe. I guess that’s the attraction for me. I’ve always been a fan of time travel/parallel worlds/alternate history SF.

195
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:41:12pm
196
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:41:17pm

re: #190 goddamnedfrank

Grain of salt. Just what my friend is saying. Apparently he’d try to go to Sudan in an effort to somehow get back to Ankara. I’m as confused as you.

197
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:42:13pm

“Come to sunny Sudan for the food, the hot & cold running 7.62mm ammunition and our compete lack of extradition agreements.”

198
BeachDem  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:42:44pm

re: #167 Stanley Sea

Such beautiful research, the best research ever!

[Embedded content]

He has the same dead eyes as Scott Walker.

199
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:43:32pm
200
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:45:28pm

re: #197 goddamnedfrank

“Come to sunny Sudan for the food, the hot & cold running 7.62mm ammunition and our compete lack of extradition agreements.”

CIA Officer: He was trying to board a flight to Venezuela. We had his name on a hot list, the CB people pulled him in, uh. Don’t know why he was going to Venezuela.

CIA Superior: You don’t know?

CIA Officer: No, sir.

CIA Superior: We have no extradition with Venezuela.

CIA Officer: Oh. So what should we do with him?

CIA Superior: For fuck’s sake, put him on the next flight to Venezuela!

201
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:45:33pm

re: #193 lawhawk

Meanwhile, back here in the US, it appears that the GOP is facing a coup of its own - or at least a possible insurgency because Trump’s overtly taking over the party and offering to do the stuff the rest of the GOP only talks about in hushed tones behind closed doors.

[Embedded content]

What’s the problem? Trump can just self-fund the whole convention. Right?

202
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:45:43pm

re: #196 GlutenFreeJesus

Grain of salt. Just what my friend is saying. Apparently he’d try to go to Sudan in an effort to somehow get back to Ankara. I’m as confused as you.

Fairly straightforward:
Too many Turkish exiles/expats in Europe and around the world in general - even if he would be facing zero charges (which he might on account of assorted corruption charges allegedly involving international organizations), there would be no shortage of Turks abroad who would jump on the opportunity to strike him.

Germany would be risky for him. From Sudan, he’ll at least have some semblance of an opportunity to decide how he moves forward (either in escaping or trying to fight back)..

203
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:46:05pm

re: #187 Ming5000

I am pretty sure one of the first rules of a coup is to get the President in your mitts immediately.

I’d like to know whether or not the military tried to capture Erdogan. The way this is playing out, having Erdogan at large but powerless might be better for discouraging political Islamism in Turkey than a captured or dead martyr.

204
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:46:16pm

re: #200 Blind Frog Belly White

Burn After Reading - a great flick.

205
Jay C  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:46:51pm

twitter.com

My bad, I’m sure, but my first thought on reading this (Erdogan seeking asylum on Germany) was:

“Great, just what Germany needs: another unemployed Turkish refugee”

206
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:47:52pm

So, this would be the perfect time for Trump to drop those tax returns that he said he’d never release what with the Pence VP nomination and the Turkey situation ongoing, plus the ongoing fallout from the Nice attack.

But he wont. That’d be admitting he’s a whole lot less rich than he claims and that he donates far less than he insists.

207
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:48:15pm

re: #201 ObserverArt

What’s the problem? Trump can just self-fund the whole convention. Right?

That’s a good one. Trump is strictly an OPM guy.

(Other People’s Money)

208
FormerDirtDart  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:48:24pm

Yeah, so I turn on my computer, saying to myself: “I wonder what has happened in the world during the last three and a half hours…”

DA FAUQ

209
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:48:41pm

re: #202 Archangelus

Yup. Not many places where he’d be safe.

More from my friend:

People in Istanbul ignoring the curfew. Telling the military to go home.

210
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:49:03pm

re: #205 Jay C

twitter.com

My bad, I’m sure, but my first thought on reading this (Erdogan seeking asylum on Germany) was:

“Great, just what Germany needs: another unemployed Turkish refugee”

Greetings!

I am contacting you because of your Great Reputation for Honesty. I was the personal Secretary of the President of Turkey. I am asking your assistance in bring a large sum of money out of Turkey….

211
lawhawk  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:49:11pm

I’m with Patton Oswalt. I want a redo on 2016. And can we throw in 2015 too?

212
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:49:13pm
213
Barefoot Grin  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:50:33pm

“Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison….”

214
danarchy  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:51:30pm

re: #205 Jay C

twitter.com

My bad, I’m sure, but my first thought on reading this (Erdogan seeking asylum on Germany) was:

“Great, just what Germany needs: another unemployed Turkish refugee”

Hah! I’m sure Erdogan has plenty of cash tucked away in foreign bank accounts though.

215
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:52:20pm

re: #211 lawhawk

I’m with Patton Oswalt. I want a redo on 2016. And can we throw in 2015 too?

(Victoria Principal awakes, looks around bedroom. Sound of shower running. She enters bathroom pulls back shower curtain)

Bobby Ewing: Hey! Jesus Christ, Pam! Waters getting all over the damn floor! You want me to break my neck when I step out?

216
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:52:24pm

re: #214 danarchy

Yeah, that is a definite.

217
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:52:40pm

re: #211 lawhawk

I’m with Patton Oswalt. I want a redo on 2016. And can we throw in 2015 too?

I imagine for him it’s much more personal.

218
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:53:24pm
219
FormerDirtDart  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:53:49pm

I’m thinking right now Erdogan is wishing he had collected and trained up a much larger team of Pokemon

220
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:53:55pm

re: #218 klys (maker of Silmarils)

He could get to Saudi.

221
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:53:59pm

Gotta say after listening a bit to MSNBC, the reporting here is better and faster. Good job Lizard News Crew.

222
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:54:08pm
223
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:54:39pm
224
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:54:40pm

re: #218 klys (maker of Silmarils)

[Embedded content]

I wonder how much the US weighed in on that decision?

225
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:54:44pm
226
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:55:17pm

re: #222 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

The media-coup: social and anti-social.

227
Emptor scriptor Remorse  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:55:25pm

Stocks are at an all time high

U.S. stocks were little changed Friday as the S&P 500 Index halted its longest rally in four months, while investors weighed the potential for further gains with equities near records and corporate earnings projected to drop for a fifth quarter.
The benchmark index ended a succession of fresh highs this week as Wells Fargo & Co. dragged on the gauge, losing 2.5 percent after its quarterly results disappointed. Also weighing, amazon.com Inc. sank for a fourth day, the longest in four months. Raw-materials rose for an eighth session, the most since October.

Depending on what happens in Turkey over the weekend, it could be a very black Monday at the Dow.

228
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:55:44pm

re: #67 I Would Prefer Not To

Is it to soon to blame Obama?

Its never too soon to blame Obama.

229
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:55:50pm

re: #221 ObserverArt

Gotta say after listening a bit to MSNBC, the reporting here is better and faster. Good job Lizard News Crew.

Embedded Image

Are we being paid scale?
/////

230
Barefoot Grin  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:56:58pm

re: #229 Blind Frog Belly White

Are we being paid scale?
/////

Are you a Pisces?

231
Great White Snark  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:57:36pm

re: #201 ObserverArt

232
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:58:02pm
233
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:58:49pm

re: #77 danarchy

What does a military coup in a NATO country mean? What are our obligations, any? Do they get to stay in NATO, do we recognize the new military government(assuming the coup succeeds)

We always have after the other coups in Turkey.

234
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:58:53pm

re: #230 Barefoot Grin

Are you a Pisces?

Upding for regnaD kciN reference.

235
Eric The Fruit Bat  Jul 15, 2016 • 2:59:34pm

re: #221 ObserverArt

You need to put a hat on the lizard.

236
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:01:09pm

re: #235 Eric The Fruit Bat

You need to put a hat on the lizard.

The lizard wouldn’t have it!

237
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:01:30pm

re: #236 ObserverArt

The lizard wouldn’t have it!

what about a jazzy ponytail?

238
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:01:30pm
239
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:01:31pm

Doubting he was on a plane. He was just on tv taking live questions.

And people are taking to the streets. Friend is going too. :-/

240
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:02:19pm
241
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:02:40pm
242
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:02:56pm

re: #240 wrenchwench

That GIF never gets old.

243
ObserverArt  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:03:16pm

re: #237 Backwoods_Sleuth

what about a jazzy ponytail?

Hmmmm. Might have to do one like that. : )

244
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:04:21pm

re: #242 klys (maker of Silmarils)

That GIF never gets old.

And yet, I see by your comment that it is not new…

245
Thanos  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:05:05pm

People have been queueing up at ATMs all over Turkey.

246
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:05:47pm

re: #240 wrenchwench

Considering what an incompetent dolt Boris is, this could be entertaining.

247
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:06:01pm

re: #244 wrenchwench

And yet, I see by your comment that it is not new…

But it’s so awesome, it should be everywhere.

248
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:06:59pm

re: #246 Ziggy_TARDIS

Considering what an incompetent dolt Boris is, this could be entertaining.

249
The Vicious Babushka  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:07:36pm
250
sagehen  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:08:16pm

re: #214 danarchy

Hah! I’m sure Erdogan has plenty of cash tucked away in foreign bank accounts though.

Wouldn’t it be funny if he owns one of the unoccupied apartments in Trump Tower?

251
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:09:01pm

The medium is the counter-message.

252
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:10:24pm

Uh oh: multiple reports indicating that the Turkish Military Chief of Staff may have been killed…

253
Barefoot Grin  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:10:35pm

re: #248 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Why don’t you try a beach landing at Gallipoli?

254
unproven innocence  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:10:50pm

Turkey arrests 28 people over alleged funding of Gulen movement
June 25, 2016 - 15:47 AMT Excerpt:

Gulen and Erdogan were allies until police and prosecutors seen as sympathetic to Gulen opened a graft investigation into Erdogan’s inner circle in 2013. Thousands of police officers, prosecutors and judges were sacked or reassigned for alleged links to the cleric while several media outlets with ties to Gulen have been seized or shut down, Reuters says.

In late May Erdogan designated the religious movement of Gulen a terrorist group and said he would pursue its members whom he accuses of trying to topple the government.

More than 2000 people including police officers, civil servants and teachers have been rounded up in operations across Turkey targeting the financial activities of Gulen’s followers, local media reported, citing police data.

255
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:11:33pm

Pinned tweets can be quite annoying if maintained during a fast-breaking story. Especially this one:

256
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:11:42pm

re: #254 unproven innocence

Reading on the Gulen Movement, I do have some criticism, but they are certainly not violent.

257
Joe Bacon  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:12:02pm

re: #221 ObserverArt

Gotta say after listening a bit to MSNBC, the reporting here is better and faster. Good job Lizard News Crew.

Embedded Image

LOVE THAT LOGO!!!!!!

258
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:13:26pm

re: #255 wrenchwench

Pinned tweets can be quite annoying if maintained during a fast-breaking story. Especially this one:

[Embedded content]

Look at the tweets & replies tab - that way the pinned tweet won’t show.

I hate em.

259
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:13:27pm

re: #257 Joe Bacon

I want to be on the record, and say I was being half to 3/4 sarcastic when I suggested a Coup was happening.

260
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:13:35pm
261
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:13:50pm

re: #201 ObserverArt

What’s the problem? Trump can just self-fund the whole convention. Right?

Trump would say to just stiff the contractors.

262
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:14:57pm
263
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:15:42pm

re: #260 gocart mozart

That may very well be the world’s largest baby.

264
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:16:50pm

re: #220 Ziggy_TARDIS

He could get to Saudi.

I think that’s where Idi Amin retired to.

265
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:17:11pm

So, this happened in 1997, a “post-modern coup”. Basically the military said to the Party in Power (Islamist), “Hey, why don’t you guys all go away so we can have new elections, hmmm?”

en.wikipedia.org

The last “real” military coup was in 1980. Dissolved Parliament, wrote a new Constitution, etc. Took three years.

en.wikipedia.org

266
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:19:34pm
267
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:21:24pm
268
sagehen  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:22:38pm
269
makeitstop  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:23:05pm

re: #229 Blind Frog Belly White

Are we being paid scale?
/////

We get paid in crickets and mealworms.

270
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:24:53pm

I don’t know a damn thing about Turkey.

Does anyone know Fox News’ phone number so I can call Bill O’Reilly tonight and talk about it?

271
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:25:37pm

This is going to be an unpopular coup. The military won’t come out of this good.

272
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:25:58pm
273
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:26:06pm

re: #270 Skip Intro

I don’t know a damn thing about Turkey.

Does anyone know Fox News’ phone number so I can call Bill O’Reilly tonight and talk about it?

Tell ‘em you used to work for the CIA. I hear they never check on that.
//

274
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:26:40pm

Just seeing this that CNN Turk is reporting on a clash between the civilians and the soldiers. Soldiers have opened fire on civilians at the Bosphorus Bridge.

275
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:27:54pm

re: #267 gocart mozart

“Ever had a job that required you to know something?”

Donald Trump sure as shit hasn’t.

276
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:28:54pm

re: #274 Dr Lizardo

Just seeing this that CNN Turk is reporting on a clash between the civilians and the soldiers. Soldiers have opened fire on civilians at the Bosphorus Bridge.

I hope that’s false. I thought last week was crappy.

277
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:31:04pm
278
blueraven  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:31:08pm
279
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:33:04pm

re: #268 sagehen

OK - the Aryan nation symbol is a little similar, but this one is just reaching too far.

280
Emptor scriptor Remorse  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:33:11pm

and here I thought Assad wouldn’t last.

281
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:33:23pm

re: #278 blueraven

From what I’m reading here and there, apparently the coup is being staged by elements of the Army and the Air Force. So I’m sorta not surprised.

282
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:33:53pm

Nope.

283
The Vicious Babushka  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:34:25pm

re: #268 sagehen

[Embedded content]

That’s not the first thing I thought of when I saw the logo.

284
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:35:08pm
285
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:39:14pm

Ah, now I get it.

Erdogan calls for removal of ‘Trump’ from tower in Istanbul

The Trump is strong with this one.

presstv.com

286
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:40:57pm
287
The Vicious Babushka  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:41:54pm

Meanwhile in the UK==>
(Surprised this hasn’t been mentioned)

288
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:42:02pm
289
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:43:54pm

Trump has all the best people!

wgrz.com

290
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:44:15pm

re: #282 Charles Johnson

saw that tweet earlier.
Apparently it’s from a protest in Morocco last year.

291
Alephnaught  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:44:50pm

re: #248 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

To be fair to Boris Johnson, his “Gosh!!! Cripes!!!” bumbling public schoolboy act tends to fall by the wayside whenever there’s work that needs to be done, and he tends to surprise people by displaying a reasonably consistent level of competence in such situations.

Of course, this, to me, makes him potentially more dangerous Donald Trump. Mr Trump, by his actions so far, appears to be as much of an idiot as his public image suggests, if not more so. Boris Johnson, on the other hand, seems to be much more competent than his public image. Which begs the question: strip away his public image- what does he actually stand for?

292
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:45:08pm

Let’s keep the ball rolling.

293
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:45:35pm

re: #277 goddamnedfrank

He’s not flying anywhere. He’s been on FaceTime taking live questions and broadcasting live.

294
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:46:28pm

re: #293 GlutenFreeJesus

He’s not flying anywhere. He’s been on FaceTime taking live questions and broadcasting live.

Decoy?

295
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:46:56pm

re: #294 TedStriker

Nah.

296
Single-handed sailor  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:48:56pm
297
mr.fusion  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:49:10pm
298
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:49:25pm

re: #295 GlutenFreeJesus

Nah.

I mean the reports that Erdogan was in the air and seeking asylum.

299
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:50:12pm
300
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:52:06pm
301
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:52:17pm

Speakers wanted. No Experience Needed. Apply in person to the RNC, Cleveland OH. Short sentences and small words a must.

Trump Says Franklin Graham Will Speak At Convention Which Comes As News To Franklin Graham

joemygod.com

302
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:53:37pm
303
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:54:02pm

re: #298 TedStriker

Oh. Yeah that’s what I’m thinking.

304
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:54:47pm

Salah being broadcast from all mosques in Istanbul.

This coup will fail.

305
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:55:01pm
306
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:55:24pm

TRT station has been shut off by the govt.

307
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:56:03pm
308
De Kolta Chair  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:56:12pm

The tweet to which she was referring was taken down. It’s a hot mess on the innertubes.

309
Timothy Watson  Jul 15, 2016 • 3:59:56pm

re: #307 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

My standing rule is that references to The Wire are auto updings.

310
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:00:01pm

re: #304 GlutenFreeJesus

Salah being broadcast from all mosques in Istanbul.

This coup will fail.

311
De Kolta Chair  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:01:10pm

Whatever it is right now I blame it on Pokemon Go.

312
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:01:13pm

re: #310 wrenchwench

313
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:01:55pm

re: #310 wrenchwench

I’m not really sure either outcome is a victory for democracy. :/

Anyway, time for me to head off for the weekend. Later, Lizards!

314
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:03:50pm
315
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:04:08pm

Reports are coming in that Trump will fill the dead time at his convention by having dramatic readings of Tony Schwartz’s his books.

316
dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:04:45pm
just wanted to see what it would look like
317
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:04:48pm
318
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:05:34pm

There are millions of Syrians in Turkey. Mostly refugees.

319
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:06:45pm
320
Timothy Watson  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:06:48pm

re: #317 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

There’s a one-ply joke in there somewhere.

321
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:06:56pm
322
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:07:08pm
323
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:07:20pm

re: #319 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

324
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:08:02pm
325
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:09:50pm
326
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:11:04pm
327
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:11:27pm

Whoa.

328
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:12:10pm

re: #325 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

The pilots seem to be the biggest thing the coup-ers have.

329
mr.fusion  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:12:47pm

re: #327 Charles Johnson

Whoa.

[Embedded content]

holy shit

330
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:13:15pm

re: #310 wrenchwench

Won’t be a civil war. This was a crappy coup that the higher ups in the military are against. It’ll be over with by Sunday

331
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:13:37pm

re: #326 Backwoods_Sleuth

The fact that President Obama has said this instead of signaling a wait-and-see tells me that he and the Pentagon see that the attempted coup is as stone-cold dead as its plotters and prime movers will soon be.

Erdogan and his loyalists are going to have a high time with reprisals for quite a bit, then I see him tightening the screws on secularism even more.

332
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:14:17pm

re: #327 Charles Johnson

Whoa.

[Embedded content]

Let’s go to the Winchester, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over.

333
Timothy Watson  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:15:32pm

re: #327 Charles Johnson

Whoa.

[Embedded content]

Was that a fighter or a helicopter?

334
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:15:55pm

re: #330 GlutenFreeJesus

Won’t be a civil war. This was a crappy coup that the higher ups in the military are against. It’ll be over with by Sunday

If not sooner. The pilots will run out of fuel if they aren’t all shot down.

335
FormerDirtDart  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:16:33pm

re: #330 GlutenFreeJesus

Won’t be a civil war. This was a crappy coup that the higher ups in the military are against. It’ll be over with by Sunday

Maybe.
But, whats worse, the coup succeeding, or it failing?
Whichever way this goes, things will be ugly in Turkey for a while.

336
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:16:42pm

re: #333 Timothy Watson

Was that a fighter or a helicopter?

Helo — if it were a strafing fighter the apparent point of origin would change pretty rapidly.

337
Timothy Watson  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:16:51pm

re: #330 GlutenFreeJesus

Won’t be a civil war. This was a crappy coup that the higher ups in the military are against. It’ll be over with by Sunday

Sad!

338
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:20:14pm

So I can’t help but think - how does this affect Donald Trump? This is, after all, what HE’S thinking right now.

Good, because the Turkish coup wiped his truly amateurish VP announcement off Twitter and FB?

Or Bad, because that means nobody’s talking about HIM?

339
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:20:28pm

re: #330 GlutenFreeJesus

Won’t be a civil war. This was a crappy coup that the higher ups in the military are against. It’ll be over with by Sunday

340
ramex  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:21:07pm

I’m staying away from Templeton Rye (distilled in Indiana by the way) until after the election. Just to be cautious.

341
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:21:25pm

Turkey has a number of old AH-1s kicking around. That would be my best guess.

342
Timothy Watson  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:21:27pm

re: #338 Blind Frog Belly White

So I can’t help but think - how does this affect Donald Trump? This is, after all, what HE’S thinking right now.

Good, because the Turkish coup wiped his truly amateurish VP announcement off Twitter and FB?

Or Bad, because that means nobody’s talking about HIM?

It’s also pushing the Nice attack off the front page too.

343
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:21:30pm

re: #335 FormerDirtDart

It’s failing bad. Nobody is supporting it. Things will be back to normal by Sunday but the government/military reprisals against those responsible will go on for some time.

344
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:21:40pm

re: #296 Single-handed sailor

Why are those fools outside? Jeez Louise! This is why I get so riled with stupid wingnuts who need their gunz in case they need to rise against the Gubmint.

345
FormerDirtDart  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:22:33pm
346
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:25:01pm

Screen cap of vid of news broadcast from friend.

347
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:27:00pm
348
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:27:39pm

re: #343 GlutenFreeJesus

It’s failing bad. Nobody is supporting it. Things will be back to normal by Sunday but the government/military reprisals against those responsible will go on for some time.

Thing is, the apparent coup failure just gave Erdogan hellacious motivation to Islamize Turkey’s military and government institutions even more.

349
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:28:30pm

re: #338 Blind Frog Belly White

So I can’t help but think - how does this affect Donald Trump? This is, after all, what HE’S thinking right now.

Good, because the Turkish coup wiped his truly amateurish VP announcement off Twitter and FB?

Or Bad, because that means nobody’s talking about HIM?

Trump is still trying to figure out which side he should be rooting for.

350
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:29:26pm

re: #348 TedStriker

Thing is, the coup plotters just gave Erdogan a hellacious mandate to Islamize Turkey’s military and government institutions even more

Maybe not. I hope not.

351
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:29:27pm

re: #348 TedStriker

This is why coups are bad. If you fail, what you were coup’ing against will be a sure thing once the dust settles.

352
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:29:49pm

re: #349 Backwoods_Sleuth

Trump is still trying to figure out which side he should be rooting for.

More importantly, he’s trying to figure out how to blame Hillary no matter how it turns out, as is Fox.

353
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:30:13pm

Bosporus bridge. Yeah. It’s over.

354
Blind Frog Belly White  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:30:13pm

re: #349 Backwoods_Sleuth

Trump is still trying to figure out which side he should be rooting for.

Well, Obama just said everyone should support the democratically elected government, so…..

355
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:32:28pm

re: #348 TedStriker

Thing is, the apparent coup failure just gave Erdogan hellacious motivation to Islamize Turkey’s military and government institutions even more.

Yeah, this isn’t really a happy result tonight.

356
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:33:36pm
357
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:35:57pm

In other news:

358
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:36:33pm

Anything from Daily Sabah should be taken with a big ol’ grain of salt. That newspaper is fanatically pro-Erdogan and hardcore pro-AKP.

359
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:38:02pm

Sorry for leaning towards the Coup earlier.

360
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:38:05pm
361
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:38:27pm

re: #331 TedStriker

The fact that President Obama has said this instead of signaling a wait-and-see tells me that he and the Pentagon see that the attempted coup is as stone-cold dead as its plotters and prime movers will soon be.

Erdogan and his loyalists are going to have a high time with reprisals for quite a bit, then I see him tightening the screws on secularism even more.

Excellent point, and probably spot on.

362
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:38:45pm

re: #28 steve_davis

as I recall, the military is extremely secular. If they get even a whiff that Erdogan and company are playing to Islamic extremists, they’ll oust them. Even his power play against the media might have been enough to inspire a coup.

I thought this would happen sooner rather than later. Talking head on MSNBC saying that Erdogan was to assume dictatorship powers under new legislation.

Like you said, Islamism and the military in Turkey do not play well together at all, and Erdogan is an authoritarian bastard.

363
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:38:47pm

I have to wonder, is this Erdogan’s plane? TK8456/THY8456, registered to the Turkish government. It’s just flying around in an ellipse.

flightradar24.com

364
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:39:00pm

re: #355 Testy Toad T

I’m not sure a successful coup would have been the preferred outcome. Like it or not, Erdogan is popular with most of Turkey. They are the ones that get to live with voting for him. It is what it is.

365
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:39:22pm

re: #348 TedStriker

Thing is, the apparent coup failure just gave Erdogan hellacious motivation to Islamize Turkey’s military and government institutions even more.

Yep, this is probably the worst possible outcome.

366
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:39:44pm

re: #357 Backwoods_Sleuth

In other news:

Gee, seeing as they were wanting to be a cop, who is really surprised?

367
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:39:52pm
368
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:40:29pm
369
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:41:02pm

heh

370
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:41:04pm
371
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:41:22pm

re: #331 TedStriker

The fact that President Obama has said this instead of signaling a wait-and-see tells me that he and the Pentagon see that the attempted coup is as stone-cold dead as its plotters and prime movers will soon be.

Erdogan and his loyalists are going to have a high time with reprisals for quite a bit, then I see him tightening the screws on secularism even more.

As long as he is out of the country and the Turkish AF and army is doing whatever they want…I don’t see a real path for him to do much at all unless loyalist units can be rallied. My guess is that they have already been neutralized to some degree if this coup had support in the general staff.

372
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:42:35pm

re: #371 Aunty Entity Dragon

As long as he is out of the country and the Turkish AF and army is doing whatever they want…I don’t see a real path for him to do much at all unless loyalist units can be rallied. My guess is that they have already been neutralized to some degree if this coup had support in the general staff.

I don’t think Erdogan is out of the country. See my #363.

373
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:42:42pm

re: #369 Backwoods_Sleuth

heh

Have they been under a fucking rock for the past 30+ years? I guess they have, to not even recognize Busey’s name.

374
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:42:50pm
375
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:43:31pm
376
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:43:50pm

re: #372 Dr Lizardo

I don’t think Erdogan is out of the country. See my #363.

According to the news right now he is still not in Turkey.

377
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:45:11pm

re: #376 Aunty Entity Dragon

According to the news right now he is still not in Turkey.

Hmm…….but this plane is certainly acting weird: flightradar24.com that’s for sure. It’s just flying in a loop.

378
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:45:56pm

re: #363 Dr Lizardo

I have to wonder, is this Erdogan’s plane? TK8456/THY8456, registered to the Turkish government. It’s just flying around in an ellipse.

flightradar24.com

Probably not. THY is the designator for Turkish Airlines. It’s probably just holding until it’s cleared into Ataturk or has to divert.

379
Dave In Austin  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:46:30pm

re: #375 Backwoods_Sleuth

Bearded Lives Matter!!

380
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:46:45pm

re: #364 GlutenFreeJesus

I’m not sure a successful coup would have been the preferred outcome. Like it or not, Erdogan is popular with most of Turkey. They are the ones that get to live with voting for him. It is what it is.

I’m not either.

I just know that tomorrow, Turkey will be a more emphatically and explicitly religious state than it was yesterday, and that’s a very bad and dangerous thing no matter how you slice it.

381
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:47:13pm

re: #319 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

That is interesting. That puts an entirely different picture on the table and means this may not have gone all the way to the top. If loyal AF units are engaging coup targets, yeah…bad for the coup.

382
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:47:19pm

re: #378 austin_blue

So, depending on fuel, it could have to land in Athens if this goes on for much longer?

383
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:47:39pm
384
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:47:53pm

re: #377 Dr Lizardo

Hmm…….but this plane is certainly acting weird: flightradar24.com that’s for sure. It’s just flying in a loop.

The airport is shut. Erdogan is in Germany.

385
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:48:32pm

re: #363 Dr Lizardo

I have to wonder, is this Erdogan’s plane? TK8456, registered to the Turkish government. It’s just flying around in an ellipse.

flightradar24.com

Or a wealthy vacationer.

386
CuriousLurker  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:49:35pm

I’m watching France 24 live and they’re saying police are fighting the military and government supporters are in the streets. Add to that there are some military factions firing on each other. Everyone on the ground in Turkey as well as a Turkish guy they just had in the studio said nothing is over yet, it’s impossible to tell who has the upper hand right now, and it’s going to be a long night.

387
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:49:35pm

re: #378 austin_blue

Probably not. THY is the designator for Turkish Airlines. It’s probably just holding until it’s cleared into Ataturk or has to divert.

The Flightradar24 data shows the plane (whomever is on it) is registered to the Turkish government.

388
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:50:10pm

re: #385 Stanley Sea

Or a wealthy vacationer.

Heh…..wondering WTF is going on, no doubt.

389
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:50:42pm

re: #380 Testy Toad T

Maybe Erdogan will double down on his plans. But Turkey still has elections. It’s up to the people to decide their path. They are lucky to have that choice.

390
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:50:43pm

re: #371 Aunty Entity Dragon

As long as he is out of the country and the Turkish AF and army is doing whatever they want…I don’t see a real path for him to do much at all unless loyalist units can be rallied. My guess is that they have already been neutralized to some degree if this coup had support in the general staff.

The general staff was apparently not on board with this, which denies the coup plotters even a figleaf of legality. I should have realized this from the late night hour, but didn’t. A constitutional (in Turkey) removal by the military would probably be initiated in the daytime, when the maximum number of soldiers are on duty and units could be quickly moved into desirable positions. It looks like the plotters tried to catch the top generals literally asleep. (Whether it’s a 7-11 store or a mighty army, the bosses usually work the day shift.)

391
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:50:54pm

re: #386 CuriousLurker

I’m watching France 24 live and they’re saying police are fighting the military and government supporters are in the streets. Add to that there are some military factions firing on each other. Everyone on the ground in Turkey as well as a Turkish guy they just had in the studio said nothing is over yet, it’s impossible to tell who has the upper hand right now, and it’s going to be a long night.

I assume the rebels are going to fight desperately hard, because they have to know that if they lose they are dead.

392
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:50:59pm

So we see either…

Coup is put down and Erdogan becomes the Maximum Leader strongman of Turkey for the next 30 years…or…
We get Spanish Civil War 2.0…in a NATO country and with much better weapons.

393
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:51:56pm

re: #389 GlutenFreeJesus

Maybe Erdogan will double down on his plans. But Turkey still has elections. It’s up to the people to decide their path. They are lucky to have that choice.

Do you really think those elections are going to go forward? If Erdogan wins this, he is dictator for life.

394
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:53:28pm

re: #393 Aunty Entity Dragon

Do you really think those elections are going to go forward? If Erdogan wins this, he is dictator for life.

If he ever wants Turkey to get into the EU, he has to demonstrate some semblance of democratic government. Not that admittance into the EU looked very likely even before the coup attempt.

395
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:53:31pm

re: #393 Aunty Entity Dragon

All I’m pretty sure if is that he won’t be ruling turkey for that long.

396
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:54:08pm

re: #382 Ziggy_TARDIS

So, depending on fuel, it could have to land in Athens if this goes on for much longer?

Hell it’s probably twenty minutes from Izmir in Turkey. Forty to Athens, a little bit more to Sofia. Lotsa choices.

397
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:54:20pm

re: #393 Aunty Entity Dragon

Do you really think those elections are going to go forward? If Erdogan wins this, he is dictator for life.

If he’s smart, absolutely. Everybody loves a winner, and that kicks the can down the road for at least another cycle.

398
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:54:24pm

re: #387 Dr Lizardo

The Flightradar24 data shows the plane (whomever is on it) is registered to the Turkish government.

He would be damned fool to be in the air over his country right now waiting for a SAM battery or a coup sympathetic F16 to come say “HI!”

399
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:55:42pm
400
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:55:53pm

re: #394 Big Beautiful Door

If he ever wants Turkey to get into the EU, he has to demonstrate some semblance of democratic government. Not that admittance into the EU looked very likely even before the coup attempt.

The EU is a pipe dream now. He was already going for dictatorship with the powers the legislature was going to hand him.

401
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:57:27pm

re: #399 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

If the coup has air assets…the coup is definitely NOT over.

We have no idea how this is going to end. I am seeing all kinds of contradictory stuff I cannot make sense of.

402
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:59:13pm

re: #387 Dr Lizardo

The Flightradar24 data shows the plane (whomever is on it) is registered to the Turkish government.

Oh, shit, you’re right. That’s a G4. Turkish Airlines is owned by the government. Of course it’s got the same designator. Good catch, Doctor L!

That could very well be Erdogan, and if it is it means his government still has control of air traffic control and the Turkish Air Force. He wouldn’t be drilling circles in the sky if he knew he might be missile bait. His pilots would never stand for it.

403
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:59:39pm

re: #401 Aunty Entity Dragon

If the coup has air assets…the coup is definitely NOT over.

We have no idea how this is going to end. I am seeing all kinds of contradictory stuff I cannot make sense of.

I have to agree; it’s not over yet and it’s impossible to say who has the upper hand at this moment.

404
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:59:41pm

Since I know nothing about Turkey I’ll keep to what I know, ok?

There’s a Terrific, Super-Classy Home for Sale in Queens
By Jen Kirby

Welcome to this great, super-classy — I’m talking super-classy, the classiest — Jamaica Estates Tudor. This home features 2,000 square feet and six bedrooms that are really, really great. You’ve never slept better in your life, I swear, I swear it. It also has four and a half baths and super-luxury mahogany floors. It also happens to be the childhood home to the guy who is winning in all of the great polls, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.

This unbelievable home, at 85-15 Wareham Place, is listed for $1.65 million, which is such a great deal. It’s the same address (though at the time it was called Wareham Road) listed on Trump’s birth certificate. Trump’s father eventually built a bigger, really a huge house around the corner on Midland Parkway, says Newsday, back when we had a country.

There’s apparently an open house this Saturday so you can see this really, really — let me tell you, really — incredible house. The real-estate agent was able to sell serial killer Joel Rifkin’s house to people, so you know this guy is a terrific, just a terrific real-estate agent. I’d say he makes the best deals, the best, and if you buy this house you will be winning all the time.

Expect potential clients will really comb over the place.

nymag.com

405
Testy Toad T  Jul 15, 2016 • 4:59:49pm

re: #401 Aunty Entity Dragon

If the coup has air assets…the coup is definitely NOT over.

We have no idea how this is going to end. I am seeing all kinds of contradictory stuff I cannot make sense of.

My read on things is that the coup had a chance to try to establish some sort of popular legitimacy, but that they utterly failed to do so. If that’s the case then it’s only a matter of time.

406
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:00:14pm

re: #400 Aunty Entity Dragon

I see where you’re coming from. But on the other hand, were he to declare himself ruler for life, that could just show those responsible for the coup had a point. How this plays out in the long run is ultimately up to the people of Turkey.

407
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:03:14pm

re: #405 Testy Toad T

My read on things is that the coup had a chance to try to establish some sort of popular legitimacy, but that they utterly failed to do so. If that’s the case then it’s only a matter of time.

I still wonder if enough of the army is involved that you end up with Spain circa 1938 where neither side can get complete control initially. Impossible to tell, and as others have said, the coup has every reason to keep fighting since they will not be spared.

408
Dr. Matt  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:03:27pm

We are living in historic times. Future generations will not comprehend how so much as happened in so little time.

409
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:03:38pm
410
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:04:01pm

re: #402 austin_blue

Oh, shit, you’re right. That’s a G4. Turkish Airlines is owned by the government. Of course it’s got the same designator. Good catch, Doctor L!

That could very well be Erdogan, and if it is it means his government still has control of air traffic control and the Turkish Air Force. He wouldn’t be drilling circles in the sky if he knew he might be missile bait. His pilots would never stand for it.

Whomever’s on that plane, it’s now heading over the Sea of Marmara in a northeasterly direction. Maybe to Istanbul? But that’s closed, or at least it was the last I saw.

411
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:05:43pm

I make no claim of accuracy….

412
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:06:32pm

re: #410 Dr Lizardo

There is another airport. Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Looks like where the plane is going.

413
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:06:56pm

re: #410 Dr Lizardo

Whomever’s on that plane, it’s now heading over the Sea of Marmara in a northeasterly direction. Maybe to Istanbul? But that’s closed, or at least it was the last I saw.

I saw an assertion that I could not find again that Erdogan was in Istanbul.

414
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:07:07pm

re: #411 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

I make no claim of accuracy….

I’ll be honest…

I really have a “Pox on both their houses!” attitude right now.

415
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:07:10pm
416
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:07:27pm

re: #408 Dr. Matt

We are living in historic times. Future generations will not comprehend how so much as happened in so little time.

Our parents from 1962-1968 could probably relate.

417
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:08:08pm

re: #402 austin_blue

Oh, shit, you’re right. That’s a G4. Turkish Airlines is owned by the government. Of course it’s got the same designator. Good catch, Doctor L!

That could very well be Erdogan, and if it is it means his government still has control of air traffic control and the Turkish Air Force. He wouldn’t be drilling circles in the sky if he knew he might be missile bait. His pilots would never stand for it.

Yep, Erdogan’s aircraft is indeed a G4 and there is only one in the Turkish inventory.

418
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:08:15pm

So. I turned on Frontline. Smuggled video footage of life in Saudi Arabia. What shitty “friends” the rulers there are.

419
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:08:18pm

Another talking head on MSNBC talking about potential for civil war.

420
wrenchwench  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:08:57pm

re: #414 Aunty Entity Dragon

I’ll be honest…

I really have a “Pox on both their houses!” attitude right now.

Poxes for all! But first; Vaccines for all!

Later, lizards.

421
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:10:11pm

Nice pix on MSNBC of a German Leopard1A4.

422
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:11:46pm

I sure as hell would not want to be in the Greek army on the border with Turkey right now…

423
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:12:48pm

I’m not familiar with this source, but this is the first verified twitter account (quite a few other accounts are mentioning this name):

424
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:13:34pm
425
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:13:37pm

Coup guys shooting at civilians on Bosphorus bridge. That’s now how this works.

426
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:14:11pm

re: #423 Backwoods_Sleuth

Colonel is not a high position to be doing this from.

Though Qaddafi did so, but Libya’s Military at the time was small.

427
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:14:56pm

re: #410 Dr Lizardo

Whomever’s on that plane, it’s now heading over the Sea of Marmara in a northeasterly direction. Maybe to Istanbul? But that’s closed, or at least it was the last I saw.

The *terminal* may be closed, but the *government* hangers on the other side of the complex may be open. He’s below 3,000 feet now. Definitely on approach.

428
Dr. Matt  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:15:49pm
429
Single-handed sailor  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:16:31pm

Tanks are moving around runway at Istanbul airport.

430
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:16:45pm

re: #412 Ziggy_TARDIS

There is another airport. Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Looks like where the plane is going.

Nope, just turned north. He’s on for 35 Left.

431
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:17:09pm

re: #425 GlutenFreeJesus

Coup guys shooting at civilians on Bosphorus bridge. That’s now how this works.

They may keep shooting in the desperate hope that they can arrange amnesty in return for a ceasefire.

432
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:17:26pm

The fact the Opposition is supporting the government on this says it all.

433
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:18:20pm

It just stopped off the coast?

434
sagehen  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:18:39pm

re: #381 Aunty Entity Dragon

That is interesting. That puts an entirely different picture on the table and means this may not have gone all the way to the top. If loyal AF units are engaging coup targets, yeah…bad for the coup.

They’re like Bundy Militia… they thought they just had to make a first move, everyone else would be inspired by their bravery and rise up to join then.

Bit of a miscalculation. Oops.

435
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:19:21pm
436
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:19:34pm

Also, Gulen just denounced the Coup.

437
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:19:48pm

re: #382 Ziggy_TARDIS

So, depending on fuel, it could have to land in Athens if this goes on for much longer?

Looking at this G4…it looks like the flight originated in Fethiye on the south coast of Turkey. It doesn’t seem to have come from Germany that I can see.

438
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:20:38pm

re: #424 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Okay…so did he come in on another airplane and transfer to the G4?

439
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:21:39pm

re: #433 Ziggy_TARDIS

It just stopped off the coast?

Nah, he’s on the ground, now or there’s burning wreckage all over the approach lights and over-run.

;-)

440
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:22:00pm

The G4 is at the end of the runway.

441
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:23:08pm

Erdogan landed.

442
Archangelus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:23:22pm

Landed now.

443
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:24:10pm

re: #438 Aunty Entity Dragon

Okay…so did he come in on another airplane and transfer to the G4?

I don’t think he was in Germany.

See my littlegreenfootballs.com

444
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:25:22pm

re: #442 Archangelus

Landed now.

Yep he is. But whose tanks are those around the airport? Friend or foe (to him)?

445
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:25:56pm

Iirc, Turkey has around two hundred generals. If the coup kingpin really is a colonel, he is either nuts, or he had some reason to expect support that failed to materialize.

446
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:26:09pm

re: #443 Backwoods_Sleuth

I don’t think he was in Germany.

See my littlegreenfootballs.com

That would make a lot more sense with where the G4 came from. News was reporting he was out of the country and possibly in Germany.

447
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:26:18pm

re: #445 Shiplord Kirel

I’m going with Nuts.

448
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:26:39pm

re: #444 Dr Lizardo

Yep he is. But whose tanks are those around the airport? Friend or foe (to him)?

Hard to believe he would land at an airport surrounded by enemy tanks.

449
compound_Idaho  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:27:56pm

re: #448 Big Beautiful Door

Hard to believe he would land at an airport surrounded by enemy tanks.

Hard to believe enemy tanks wouldn’t just park on the runway.

450
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:28:08pm

re: #436 Ziggy_TARDIS

Also, Gulen just denounced the Coup.

Covering his ass I’m sure. 95% sure he was behind this.

451
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:28:22pm

So how long until Trump blames this on “Weak Obama and Crooked Hillary”?

452
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:28:24pm

re: #437 Aunty Entity Dragon

Looking at this G4…it looks like the flight originated in Fethiye on the south coast of Turkey. It doesn’t seem to have come from Germany that I can see.

It originated at Dalaman, which is kinda sorta the Turkish Cote d’Azur. Whoever was on the plane was a government high roller, (maybe coming back from a little soiree at the beach for a few days?) .

Can you imagine if he heard the shit en route?

“Um, sir, your not going to believe this, but it seems there might be a military coup in progress.”

“Oh, thanks, Colonel! Nice buzz kill! You DO NOT harsh Recep Erdogan’s mellow!”

453
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:28:37pm

re: #450 GlutenFreeJesus

Covering his ass I’m sure. 95% sure he was behind this.

LOL…

454
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:29:33pm

re: #451 Aunty Entity Dragon

So how long until Trump blames this on “Weak Obama and Crooked Hillary”?

Surprised he hasn’t already. Manafort or Ivanka must have hidden his phone.

455
Joe Bacon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:29:45pm

re: #374 gocart mozart

So Newt still wants to be Martin Landau and Callista wants to be Barbara Bain…

456
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:30:00pm

re: #449 compound_Idaho

Hard to believe enemy tanks wouldn’t just park on the runway.

No…you park off to the side. Nobody want to actually get hit by a plane, even if you are in a tank.

457
dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:31:11pm

general consensus seems to be that if erdogan comes out on top there will be less democracy and more oppression, and if the coup comes out on top there will be more oppression and less democracy

458
b_sharp  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:31:16pm

I wish I had some chocolate covered nuts.

They’re a lot easier to swallow than the actions of the human nuts loose on Earth.

459
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:31:38pm

re: #454 Big Beautiful Door

So once again his big VP PRathon gets blown out of the news. He must be steaming mad. I can’t wait until someone explains his new logo to him.

Oh, and a new word is born.

460
The Vicious Babushka  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:31:44pm

re: #451 Aunty Entity Dragon

So how long until Trump blames this on “Weak Obama and Crooked Hillary”?

Trump hasn’t Tweeted in about 9 hours.

461
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:31:50pm

re: #455 Joe Bacon

So Newt still wants to be Martin Landau and Callista wants to be Barbara Bain…

Then I want an Eagle.

462
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:32:07pm
463
Shiplord Kirel  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:32:07pm

Some good news:
Texas Gov. Abbott Released from Hospital After Burn Treatment -

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been released after four nights in the hospital for treatment of severe burns he suffered while vacationing last week.

Spokesman Matt Hirsch said Abbott left San Antonio’s Brooke Army Medical Center on Friday and is returning to the governor’s mansion in Austin.

Abbott, a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair, sustained extensive second- and third-degree burns on his lower legs and feet after being scalded July 7 while in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. His office won’t say exactly how he was burned.

Glad he’s okay. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy (which Greg is not, though he is in the running.)
With any luck he will have a different perspective on the matter when his crazed fundy supporters start condemning people to eternal hellfire.

464
TedStriker  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:32:34pm

re: #445 Shiplord Kirel

Iirc, Turkey has around two hundred generals. If the coup kingpin really is a colonel, he is either nuts, or he had some reason to expect support that failed to materialize.

And now, their ass will soon be literally swinging in the breeze, if they’ve not already assumed room temp at the hands of loyalists.

465
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:33:18pm

I don’t think it’s over yet….there are unconfirmed reports that CNN Türk has been taken over by soldiers, as well as the Dogan media building and Kanal D.

The coup may not be over yet. It’s gonna be one hell of a long night - and day - in Turkey.

466
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:33:54pm

re: #463 Shiplord Kirel

Hope he’s recovered in time for this.

467
dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:34:37pm

fox news summarizes that the last two days is definitely about scary muslims

468
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:36:22pm

re: #467 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

fox news summarizes that the last two days is definitely about scary muslims

Newt declares all Turks must renounce being a Turk or leave the US!

469
bratwurst  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:36:40pm
470
dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:37:05pm

no, scratch that - fox is definitely in favor of the coup, and citing obama in favor of erdogan

471
Dr Lizardo  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:37:46pm

Well, goodnight, Lizards. It’s 2:30 am over here, so I’mma hit the hay. Guess we’ll see the daylight brings.

472
Joe Bacon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:38:53pm

re: #404 Skip Intro

Since I know nothing about Turkey I’ll keep to what I know, ok?

There’s a Terrific, Super-Classy Home for Sale in Queens
By Jen Kirby

nymag.com

Makes me want to go and buy a Powerball ticket!

473
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:39:51pm

Apparently, Trump just tweeted that “The Turks are taking their country back! Just like we will!” or some other paraphrased foolishness.

Someone may want to check if that’s factual. Sounds right. The man is totally tone deaf to nuance.

Yes, DT, because The Military Just Launched A Coup Against An Elected Government, you idiot!

474
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:40:09pm

Friend freaking out again. Several fighter jets just flew over her residential neighborhood. Very low. 5-6 of them. Sigh.

475
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:40:44pm

re: #471 Dr Lizardo

Well, goodnight, Lizards. It’s 2:30 am over here, so I’mma hit the hay. Guess we’ll see the daylight brings.

Good night, Doctor L. You did well this evening. Thanks!

476
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:41:42pm

There has been enough enough unsettling foreign news the last couple of days to let Americans think about whether or not they really want Trump with his macho bluster or Clinton in charge when the shit hits the fan. I expect the GOP Convention will be even more about how scary the world is and how we need a real man to protect us than it was already going to be. I hope the American people react the right way.

477
Skip Intro  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:42:32pm

re: #470 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

Trump is awfully quiet. We really need to hear his cool headed analysis of this situation and what that pansy Obama isn’t doing.

Wasn’t it just last night that he was planning WWIII with Bill O’Reilly? Where did that Trump go?

478
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:43:06pm

re: #473 austin_blue

Must be one of the parody accounts. Trump hasn’t tweeted anything since this morning.

479
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:44:11pm
480
Joe Bacon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:45:25pm

I have a pair of friends in Turkey. Wish I knew that they were OK!

481
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:45:39pm
482
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:49:23pm
483
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:49:58pm

re: #480 Joe Bacon

Are they in Istanbul or Ankara?

484
Big Beautiful Door  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:50:22pm

re: #482 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Could his account have been hacked? Or is he still on a bender?

485
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:50:46pm

re: #479 Backwoods_Sleuth

Couldn’t tell if they were coup or regular military.

486
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:50:52pm

Hearing that the coup in Ankara is still holding on.

Adam Silverman at Balloon Juice is an invaluable read on this since he actually does diplomacy and military stuff for a living.
balloon-juice.com

487
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:53:55pm

Over at FARK, they are saying this is a Reichstag Fire sort of thing.

488
austin_blue  Jul 15, 2016 • 5:56:36pm

re: #478 Backwoods_Sleuth

Must be one of the parody accounts. Trump hasn’t tweeted anything since this morning.

May be a retweet of his Brexit comments. How can one tell with that guy?

489
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:01:09pm

re: #487 Ziggy_TARDIS

Sounds far fetched to me….but this is the place where “Byzantine” as an adjective originated.

490
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:02:03pm

Fuck. Guys in military clothes took CNN Turk off camera. Shots and screaming. I think executed.

491
Charles Johnson  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:02:21pm
492
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:02:37pm
493
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:02:59pm

re: #488 austin_blue

May be a retweet of his Brexit comments. Wow can one tell with that guy?

Looks like this is the parody account tweet you saw:

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

494
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:03:16pm

re: #490 GlutenFreeJesus

[Embedded content]

Fuck. Guys in military clothes took CNN Turk off camera. Shots and screaming. I think executed.

My God.

495
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:03:21pm

re: #490 GlutenFreeJesus

Yeah, fuck the Coup at this point.

I think Fark may be over-reaching/going hysterical.

496
bratwurst  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:04:11pm

Between teaching ESL for 23 years, working in Germany for 5 years and doing an academic project in Turkey for 2 weeks in 2014, I know many dozens of Turks.

I have already heard from the family I know best…they are in Izmir, safe & far from the action on the Aegean coast…sure hope I hear from more tomorrow.

497
KingKenrod  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:06:10pm

Interesting info at these twitter accts.

498
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:07:33pm

re: #495 Ziggy_TARDIS

If Gülen is behind this, we better send his ass back to Turkey. Fuck him.

499
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:07:55pm
500
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:08:01pm

re: #498 GlutenFreeJesus

Yeah, same here.

501
Romantic Heretic  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:09:01pm

re: #434 sagehen

That’s a pretty standard mindset for these types of people. Thank God. If they weren’t so delusional they’d succeed more often.

502
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:09:59pm

What a fucking nightmare.

I’m ready for this damned year to be done already.

503
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:10:43pm

Sounds like civilians trying to take control of CNN Turk from coup. People chanting AA. No word on news people. Hope they’re safe.

504
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:11:26pm

re: #503 GlutenFreeJesus

Sounds like civilians trying to take control of CNN Turk from coup. People chanting AA. No word on news people. Hope they’re safe.

Safe? No. Unharmed? Hopefully.

505
SoundGuy 2016  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:11:55pm
506
Single-handed sailor  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:11:58pm
507
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:12:54pm

re: #490 GlutenFreeJesus

I saw the feed of them walking off.

I hope to hell you/your friend are wrong.

508
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:13:37pm

re: #493 Backwoods_Sleuth

OH DENALD

509
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:13:49pm

I’m watching the CNN Turk live feed right now.
There’s a guy in casual clothes, walking around the set talking on his cellphone.

510
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:13:52pm
511
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:15:02pm

re: #506 Single-handed sailor

Yeah, the Coup forces are acting awfully.

512
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:16:05pm

re: #507 Stanley Sea

Me too.

513
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:17:03pm

re: #505 SoundGuy 2016

[Embedded content]

Kitteh sez:

Chickies made of warm!

514
EPR-radar  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:17:41pm

re: #505 SoundGuy 2016

The next meal and a warm place to sleep in one shot.

515
freetoken  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:18:03pm

re: #510 gocart mozart

That was probably put together from this data group:

electionstudies.org

516
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:18:30pm

re: #510 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

Yup.

Nothing’s changed.

517
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:19:57pm

Erdogan about to speak.

518
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:20:10pm

If Erdogan cannot get control of Ankara by morning, you start looking at possibility of prolonged fighting.

519
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:21:18pm
520
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:21:42pm

From what I can tell at the livefeed, they are waiting until it’s safe before getting back in front of the cameras. And the building is not secure. Too many civilians they do not recognize are in the building.

521
FormerDirtDart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:21:46pm

re: #509 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’m watching the CNN Turk live feed right now.
There’s a guy in casual clothes, walking around the set talking on his cellphone.

Yeah, I’m watching CNN, and they just mentioned they were still seeing an empty studio.
I’m kind of sure that if there had audio of what was described Anderson Cooper and company would probably have said something about it.

522
freetoken  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:21:55pm

This Turkey chaos raises all sorts of questions for long term US foreign policy - questions Drumpfskind can not even formulate, much less address.

523
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:23:20pm

re: #521 FormerDirtDart

Yeah, I’m watching CNN, and they just mentioned they were still seeing an empty studio.
I’m kind of sure that if there had audio of what was described Anderson Cooper and company would probably have said something about it.

There is audio at the feed I’m watching, but it’s not in English.

524
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:23:47pm

re: #519 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

Yep. If Erdogan wins, he becomes a dictator and democracy goes away for good.

525
teleskiguy  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:24:31pm
526
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:24:56pm

re: #522 freetoken

This Turkey chaos raises all sorts of questions for long term US foreign policy - questions Drumpfskind can not even formulate, much less address.

Whoever is in charge tomorrow morning will not be our friend in any real way and will not be cooperative with our interests.

527
dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:25:27pm

what is this business erdogan is talking about about the coup being run from pennsylvania?

wtf??

528
SoundGuy 2016  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:26:03pm

re: #510 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

I’ve been trying to find that actual study. Only found the one from 1985. Seems to correlate.

529
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:26:10pm

re: #527 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

what is this business erdogan is talking about about the coup being run from pennsylvania?

wtf??

That cleric we were talking about live in Pennsylvania.

530
FormerDirtDart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:26:31pm

re: #523 Backwoods_Sleuth

There is audio at the feed I’m watching, but it’s not in English.

Gunshots and screaming doesn’t need a lot of translation. And, they are talking to CNN Turk editor in chief live by phone right now

531
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:26:48pm

re: #527 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

what is this business erdogan is talking about about the coup being run from pennsylvania?

wtf??

Gulen

532
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:27:18pm

re: #527 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

what is this business erdogan is talking about about the coup being run from pennsylvania?

wtf??

Erdogan and his has allies blame the coup on a Gulenist cabal within the military. Fetullah Gulen is a US-based cleric who was once allied with Erdogan. Since their split, Erdogan has gone after Gulenists with a venom - declaring them a parallel state within the state (not too far from the truth).

We know that Gulen has a fair number of sympathizers in the military. In fact, the military may be Gulen’s last bastion of strength in Turkey, since others in the police, judiciary, media and other branches of the government have already been purged. No doubt, the government will use the coup as an opportunity to launch an even bigger attack on the Gulen movement.

vox.com

533
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:28:04pm

re: #527 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

what is this business erdogan is talking about about the coup being run from pennsylvania?

wtf??

He’s talking about the cleric leading the Gülen Movement, who lives in Pennsylvania.

534
Ziggy_TARDIS  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:28:08pm

re: #531 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’m wondering if this is an Emmanuel Goldstein situation with Gulen and Turkey.

535
FormerDirtDart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:29:08pm

An oldie..

536
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:30:09pm

re: #527 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

Gülen is in exile in PA.

537
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:30:25pm

It seems Erdogan had already run a Stalinist purge called the “sledgehammer trials” which were a kangaroo affair to get rid of all the senior leadership and keep this sort of thing from ever happening. Guess he didn’t go far enough down the ranks?

538
Great White Snark  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:30:53pm

So I guess it’s a known thing that we have nuclear weapons in Turkey at the base?!

539
Great White Snark  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:32:07pm

re: #537 Aunty Entity Dragon

It seems Erdogan had already run a Stalinist purge called the “sledgehammer trials” which were a kangaroo affair to get rid of all the senior leadership and keep this sort of thing from ever happening. Guess he didn’t go far enough down the ranks?

Or his purge caused it.

540
FormerDirtDart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:32:22pm

re: #537 Aunty Entity Dragon

It seems Erdogan had already run a Stalinist purge called the “sledgehammer trials” which were a kangaroo affair to get rid of all the senior leadership and keep this sort of thing from ever happening. Guess he didn’t go far enough down the ranks?

Yeah, heard earlier that a pile of former senior military officials just got out of jail. Court overturned their convictions

541
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:32:52pm

CNN Turk people are getting back to their seats on the set.

542
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:33:37pm

Talking head on MSNBC saying the 1988 coup (which I remember) killed thousands of people.

It looks like this current coup doesn’t want to actually machine gun thousands of people in the street like that live on facebook. Erdogan will not be so delicate I imagine.

543
A Cranky One  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:33:43pm
544
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:34:40pm

re: #538 Great White Snark

So I guess it’s a known thing that we have nuclear weapons in Turkey at the base?!

We have since the early 60’s.

545
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:34:53pm
546
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:34:55pm

A couple of wingnut views

547
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:35:43pm

re: #540 FormerDirtDart

Yeah, heard earlier that a pile of former senior military officials just got out of jail. Court overturned their convictions

I’m guessing they will vanish before too long and never be heard from again, along with their families.

548
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:36:37pm

re: #527 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

See comment #481

549
unproven innocence  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:37:32pm

re: #527 dog philosopher ஐஒஔ௸

what is this business erdogan is talking about about the coup being run from pennsylvania?

wtf??

Current events in Turkey remind me a bit of 01 Sep 1939, when the Poles were credibly portrayed as the agressors, initially.

550
goddamnedfrank  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:39:02pm
551
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:39:52pm

re: #549 unproven innocence

Current events in Turkey remind me a bit of 01 Sep 1939, when the Poles were credibly portrayed as the agressors, initially.

We have a situation here where neither side is “good” by any stretch of the imagination. Erdogan is an Islamist tyrant who has jailed dissent and stifled democratic institutions. The coup leaders seem to be religious nuts as well.

552
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:41:07pm

General Wesley Clark says he thinks this is winding down. Ankara still unknown but he has heard some leaders have surrendered. (I find that hard to believe)

553
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:41:26pm
554
unproven innocence  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:41:34pm

re: #551 Aunty Entity Dragon

No argument.

555
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:42:14pm

re: #541 Backwoods_Sleuth

CNN Turk people are getting back to their seats on the set.

Thank dog.

556
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:47:31pm
557
Scottishdragon  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:48:37pm

Going to turn on Maher.

558
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:49:17pm

re: #535 FormerDirtDart

An oldie..

[Embedded content]

One of my favorite songs of all time. The best to sing like, real loud.

Toto’s Africa.

559
gocart mozart  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:49:36pm
560
Sherlock Hound  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:49:56pm

re: #553 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

My cat had solar cells on her tummy for that! She charged them often, particularly on my lap where she loved being on her back!

561
DodgerFan1988  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:50:38pm

Of course. Right Wingers in the comment sections of Brietbart, The Blaze, and The National Review are calling for the Military to overthrow President Obama and his “Sharia Law.”

562
SoundGuy 2016  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:52:34pm
563
A Cranky One  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:53:09pm

re: #556 Backwoods_Sleuth

Let’s try to guess what Trump will say.

Shifty Erdogan wants my name off buildings in Turkey. Bad guy, no respect.

A leader would see the opportunity to sell Turkey military hardware to replace what was lost. Profit for American. JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!

are my guesses.

564
A Cranky One  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:54:14pm

re: #560 Sherlock Hound

My cat had solar cells on her tummy for that! She charged them often, particularly on my lap where she loved being on her back!

So you charged her with your sunny disposition?

565
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:54:44pm

I ate some brains in AAAAAAAAFRICA

566
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:57:30pm
567
bratwurst  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:58:50pm

Yep.

568
Single-handed sailor  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:59:06pm

re: #565 Stanley Sea

I ate some brains in AAAAAAAAFRICA

Are you watching Stranger Things? That song is on right now in this episode I’m watching.

569
freetoken  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:59:19pm

re: #566 Backwoods_Sleuth

This event is so twisted… as if Erdogan is some sort of knight in shining armor, when his governance of the country has had its own black marks.

570
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 6:59:33pm

He’s fucking hanging Pence out to dry.

571
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 7:00:18pm

re: #568 Single-handed sailor

Are you watching Stranger Things? That song is on right now in this episode I’m watching.

Nope, the video of the dog above had the song as background, so I had to youtube it.

572
freetoken  Jul 15, 2016 • 7:01:01pm

Blood-sport world turning more upside down that it was before UFC 200:

Brock Lesnar notified of potential doping violation

As noted yesterday, UFC president Dana White is a friend of Drumpfskind and is speaking at the convention.

573
Snarknado!  Jul 15, 2016 • 7:03:55pm

And in local news, I received an email from hillaryclinton.com with the subject heading:

“Today only, we will send you a new butt…”

That is all.

574
PhillyPretzel  Jul 15, 2016 • 7:05:15pm

re: #573 Snarknado!

Very interesting. I did not know they could do that. /half

575
Stanley Sea  Jul 15, 2016 • 7:05:38pm

re: #553 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

From earlier today. If you note, there are 2 blankets positioned perfectly for the sun.

Wasn’t enough.

Oh Chica
576
Decatur Deb  Jul 15, 2016 • 7:19:23pm

re: #125 Testy Toad T

I suspect the Turkish military wants absolutely nothing to do with those devices. This is one of those scenarios where decades of interoperation are a good thing. Pretty much everyone in any command role has worked directly with US forces through his or her career.

When the US Army had weapons in Turkey, they were kept in a state that would prevent unwanted attentions. Assume USAF is the same.

577
garzooma  Jul 15, 2016 • 7:31:06pm

Fun fact: Mike Pence’s daughter Audrey did a journalism co-op in Turkey last year:

In 2015, Audrey went on a transformative journalism co-op to Turkey as part of her International Affairs studies. She wrote some hard-hitting stories about bride kidnapping and hit the streets to get quotes from Turkish nationals about the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

578
Sherlock Hound  Jul 15, 2016 • 7:44:24pm

re: #564 A Cranky One

So you charged her with your sunny disposition?

She charged me! She sure loved her human.


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