Turkey

[Workingman]

State of emergency now - with all that entails.

So, within Turkey, anything goes, so long as Erdogan says so.

Will the Yanks want to remove their nukes PDQ,? And what will NATO do?

Talk about a mess.

[Kate1933]

How frightening, in my ignorance I never realised that Turkey's prime minister is ruthless, he sounds akin to Saddam, the country must be in a state for so many to attempt a coup, what ever will happen to the American military base and weapons. Erdogan sounds like a frightening despot, we drove through Turkey many times, oh dear how frightening. What will happen to those arrested? The mind boggles. I have been unwell, have not kept up with the news.

[Suff]

How frightening, in my ignorance I never realised that Turkey's prime minister is ruthless, he sounds akin to Saddam

It was there and available for anyone who wanted to know. I take an interest because of Family ties to the Kurdish state. So I know exactly what Erdogan is like. I listened to the Western powers decrying the Coup and thought to myself "you are going to pay for this stance with a lot of lost face". Face is being lost on a daily basis right now.

Interestingly the coup was only a small affair. I do wonder if these actions might trigger an army wide one???? What would the West say if that happened I wonder...

[Workingman]

Interestingly the coup was only a small affair. I do wonder if these actions might trigger an army wide one???? What would the West say if that happened I wonder...

An extremely good question.

The Turkish armed forces are massive. If the current 100 or so top brass are vindictively removed (executed) the remaining forces might just take exception and retaliate, en mass, to protect themselves.

For me the West would have little option but to support the coup.

Turkey is too important to the West and NATO for it to be in the hands of a despot and dictator.

[Suff]

Turkey is too important to the West and NATO for it to be in the hands of a despot and dictator.

Well let's hope that Erdogan doesn't quite realise that and oversteps the mark. Because that man is a nightmare in the making. It is at times like these what the most careful steps have to be taken because the repercussions are long and far reaching. Sadly most western democracies don't see that and keep following the "mantra" until the "oops" moment happens..

[Kate1933]

I am amazed that a local friend and her family went off to Turkey for a holiday at the beginning of the week. It would never enter my head to do so under the circumstances, just hope they stay safe.

[Workingman]

From my POV if people go to predominantly Islamic countries for a 'holiday' in times of heightened tension they have to take the consequences if or when thing go wrong. All the information about what could happen is out there and if they choose to ignore it then it becomes their problem.

[Kate1933]

I agree, Frank but the thought of anyone taking such a risk is incomprehensible, I also have old friends who have lived there for well over twenty years. just hoping they are all safe and remain so.