Turkey 7-1-2016

1, July 2016                                  Turkey

Once seen as a poster child for Islamic moderation, Turkey is rapidly descending into a polarized society. Like much of the Islamic world, Erdogan’s grip on power is tightening and intolerance and violence is growing. 

Closeted in his huge 1,000 room mansion, he perceives critics as the enemy.

Contrary to common Western misconceptions, Erdogan’s military is not attacking ISIS but is waging a relentless against the Kurdish Workers’ Party, the PKK, which has fought an intermittent insurgency against Turkey since the 1980s.

A number of towns in Turkey’s southeast are under curfew and resentment and anger towards Erdogan’s authoritarian rule is growing. He is playing a dangerous game of appeasement allowing ISIS fighters to move across the border to their Syrian stronghold, Raqqa.

Erdogan’s double dealing has confounded the Americans who depend on Kurdish fighters to curb the menacing presence of ISIS.

Turkey has suffered geographic bad luck situated in an extremely violent region with millions pouring across its border.  But Erdogan’s prickly and erratic personality has not helped. In an effort to project himself as a strong leader he has continued to wage war on the Kurds and has jailed dissidents who challenge his rule.

Western nations are well aware that Erdogan holds a winning hand. Any threat or challenge to his rule will be accompanied by closing the borders with Syria unleashing millions of migrants into Europe.