# Attempted Coup in Turkey
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 15, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001 "2016-07-15T20:27:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/21 "2016-07-15T20:54:37Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#):
>
> I suspect this post will be outdated in about 10 minutes.
Heh, probably. š
I just have a feeling that a coup on the way to success would have the govāt in custody by the time we have heard of it.
Iām not willing to bet $$$ though.
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### Author:  [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/22 "2016-07-15T20:56:00Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> Had there ever been a coup in an active NATO member country? Maybe Greece?
Greece had a right wing coup in 1967 and Portugal had a left wing coup in 1974.
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### Author:  [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/23 "2016-07-15T20:56:18Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Heh, probably. š
>
> I just have a feeling that a coup on the way to success would have the govāt in custody by the time we have heard of it.
>
> Iām not willing to bet $$$ though.
[x.com](https://twitter.com/feyzi_isbasaran/status/754051730246074369) š
ETA: on the other hand, some reports saying Erdogan to give statement soon. Should be an interesting few hours. I hope thereās no (further) bloodshed.
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### Author:  [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/24 "2016-07-15T20:57:39Z")
> [@ivylass](#):
>
> What does the military have against the Prime Minister? Iām trying to understand the ramifications.
Heās been trying to install himself as a permanent dictator. Though he hasnāt been doing so recently (at least not publicly) and has been backing down from some of his more aggressive stances overall, so itās a bit strange for them to move at this particular moment.
If theyād moved on him a couple of months ago, I would have understood.
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### Author:  [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/25 "2016-07-15T20:57:54Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Erdoganās style of leadership is probably part of the cause: heās an authoritarian.
>
> None. Both Turkey and Greece have had coups before, while being NATO members.
>
> Traditionally secular.
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#):
>
> Itās not the first coup or attempted coup in the time Turkey has been a Nato member, so wait and see I guess.
>
> Secular, Kemalist (modernizing, pro-Western basically), at least in the past. Itās a bit early to say here though I guess.
Okay thanks!
Guess Iām mildly rooting for the military then. Erdogan is kind of a dick.
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### Author:  [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/26 "2016-07-15T20:59:42Z")
Erdogan is indeed a dick, but Turkey is still democratic enough that a military coup is wholly illegitimate. Never root for rule by the military in a democracy.
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### Author:  [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/27 "2016-07-15T21:00:30Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#):
>
> Erdogan is indeed a dick, but Turkey is still democratic enough that a military coup is wholly illegitimate. Never root for rule by the military in a democracy.
It seems to have been the best choice for Egypt.
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/28 "2016-07-15T21:01:07Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#):
>
> [x.com](https://twitter.com/feyzi_isbasaran/status/754051730246074369) š
>
> ETA: on the other hand, some reports saying Erdogan to give statement soon. Should be an interesting few hours. I hope thereās no (further) bloodshed.
Heh - we shall see. He could be āmaking a statementā from a military prison. š
You are right, it is too early to call, we canāt have any real idea what is going on.
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/29 "2016-07-15T21:03:20Z")
So they have both a president [and a prime minister](http://news.sky.com/story/turkish-military-says-it-has-taken-over-country-10503039)? Who has more authority?
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### Author:  [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/30 "2016-07-15T21:04:50Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> Had there ever been a coup in an active NATO member country? Maybe Greece?
Greece was a member of NATO when the Colonelsā Coup occurred in 1967.
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### Author:  [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/31 "2016-07-15T21:07:31Z")
> [@ivylass](#):
>
> So they have both a president [and a prime minister](http://news.sky.com/story/turkish-military-says-it-has-taken-over-country-10503039)? Who has more authority?
The President, well nowadays. Erdogan is the one who wields the power and has been trying to follow Putinās playbook for keeping it.
Prior to Erdogan, the President was more symbolic as in other Western parliamentary democracies with a President as Head of State.
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/32 "2016-07-15T21:08:41Z")
Apparently, ErdoÄan was out of the country, so it is most unlikely the coup has him in custody.
> [@](#):
>
> The full Turkish military statement reads: āTurkish Armed Forces have completely taken over the administration of the country to reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedoms, the rule of law and general security that was damaged.
>
> āAll international agreements are still valid. We hope that all of our good relationships with all countries will continue.ā
>
> The Turkish president Recep Tayyip ErdoÄan is on holiday and outside the country. Reuters has quoted a source within his office as saying that he is safe.
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/33 "2016-07-15T21:10:31Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#):
>
> Istanbul airport is on lock down by military.
As God is my witness, I thought Turks could fly.
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### Author:  [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/34 "2016-07-15T21:10:59Z")
> [@levdrakon](#):
>
> It seems to have been the best choice for Egypt.
Yeah, if youāre into torturing and murdering Islamists. I think thatās a pretty short-sighted view, notwithstanding its popularity in Washington D.C. and Tel Aviv.
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### Author:  [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/35 "2016-07-15T21:11:34Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Apparently, ErdoÄan was out of the country, so it is most unlikely the coup has him in custody.
Itās possible that they could keep him out though. Erdogan doesnāt seem like the type to try and sneak back in, even if it makes more sense.
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### Author:  [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/36 "2016-07-15T21:13:52Z")
Holy shit. :eek:
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/37 "2016-07-15T21:16:03Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#):
>
> Itās possible that they could keep him out though. Erdogan doesnāt seem like the type to try and sneak back in, even if it makes more sense.
The issue is that, without having him physically under their thumb, he will be a focus of countercoup loyalty. Given that heās the legitimate head of the government (whatever you happen to think of him), this I think reduces the chance of the coup spreading beyond its initial conspirators.
But again, to early to call.
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/38 "2016-07-15T21:21:54Z")
Did you see the āPresidential Palaceā that ErdoÄan built for himself? Democratically elected people generally donāt build things like that for themself.
I welcome a more secular Turkey.
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### Author:  [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/39 "2016-07-15T21:22:14Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> The issue is that, without having him physically under their thumb, he will be a focus of countercoup loyalty. Given that heās the legitimate head of the government (whatever you happen to think of him), this I think reduces the chance of the coup spreading beyond its initial conspirators.
>
> But again, to early to call.
Not sure how far the reach of the AKP extends, beyond the populace. If there are pro-AKP portions of the military, then it would be problematic as you say. But if the party is just politicians, then locking up those politicians should suffice to keep a lid on everything, so long as the people decide to accept that the military has a point about Erdogan.
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-coup-in-turkey/760001/40 "2016-07-15T21:23:28Z")
Latest:
> [@](#):
>
> 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.
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