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Erdogan is Strengthened by the Failed Coup, But Turkey is the Loser
Cockburn, Patrick
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/07/25/erdogan-is-strengthened-by-the-failed-coup-but-turkey-is-the-loser/Date Written: 2016-07-25 Publisher: Counterpunch Year Published: 2016 Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX19811 Looks into the impact of the recent (2016) coup attempt in Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's counter-coup. Abstract: - Excerpt: The next few weeks will tell if Erdogan is going target all dissent and further divide a deeply divided country. He may have a difficulty in pursuing the war against Kurdish guerrillas in south-east Turkey and, at the same time, purging the Second Army that is meant to be fighting them and whose commanding general is under arrest. It might be sensible to conciliate the Kurds, with whom Erdogan was negotiating not so long ago, but his combative political instincts are more likely to lead him to opt for continuing confrontation. ... Erdogan emerges politically stronger from the crisis, but he rules a weakened Turkish state. The army and state institutions are being hollowed out by purges and loyalty, not competence, becomes the test for advancement. Turkish involvement in Syria has produced only failure: sectarian and ethnic warfare between Sunni and Shia, Kurd and non-Kurd is infecting Turkey. Subject Headings |