Erdogan the tyrant and his EU accomplices

By TIMON DIAS, JPOST

In 1980, Turkish military cracked down on religious opposition that challenged secular state, and took power over the country.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Photo: REUTERS/Umit Bektas On September 12, 1980, the Turkish military cracked down on religious opposition movements that challenged the secular state, and took power over the country. It was a textbook coup d’état. What stood out during these events was that Western nations, whose political structures vigorously opposed military involvement in civil politics, were actually relieved by the military’s action. After all, one year earlier the secular and allied state of Iran had transformed into a theocratic and hostile nation.

But over time, a worrying dynamic revealed itself: The western view on Islamic religious political movements changed, while the core ideology and intentions of these movements did not change one bit.

The West somehow stopped seeing political Islam as a hostile ideology, and on this newly found pink cloud started to actively aid the consolidation of Islamist power, particularly in Turkey.

It was the EU that stated that if Turkey was ever to become a member of the EU, the country had to abolish the influence the Turkish military had over civil politics. It is reasonable that the EU doesn’t want a member state with a military that can undo democracy at will. But it was highly unreasonable of the EU to think that the Turkish military simply made up the threat of Islamist opposition. And it was downright ignorant of the EU to dismiss Turkish military claims that Islamist doctrine was inherently anti-Western.

True, modern Turkish Islamists, with the current Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, being a prime example, have started to preach their theocratic intentions in more discrete and innocent-sounding ways, but it’s not as if Erdogan is a master of disguise. The truth was out there in plain sight for those not blinded by wishful thinking.

It is well known that during his time as mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998, Erdogan said that “Democracy is like a train: when you reach your destination, you get off.” What is markedly less known is that during the same period he repeatedly explained why his ideology is inherently tyrannical.

Erdogan is on video saying: “You cannot be both secular and a Muslim! You will either be a Muslim, or secular! When both are together, they create reverse magnetism [i.e.

they repel one another]. For them to exist together is not a possibility! Therefore, it is not possible for a person who says “I am a Muslim” to go on and say “I am secular, too.” And why is that? Because Allah, the creator of the Muslim, has absolute power and rule!” He went on to say, “When [does the sovereignty belong to the people]? It is only when they go to the polls [every five years] that sovereignty belongs to the people. But both materially, and in essence, sovereignty unconditionally and always belongs to Allah!” This might sound arbitrary and irrelevant to Western readers, but it is not. The overarching theological drive of Islamists is the implementation of the sovereignty of Allah on earth, known as Hakimiyyat Allah, using a divinely mandated set of laws, referred to as Sharia. The problem with the sovereignty of Allah is that it may not be undone by mere mortals, since of course the sovereignty of the people is inferior to the sovereignty of Allah. This means that Islamist doctrine does not allow them to be democratically removed from power, and this makes their ideology inherently tyrannical.

Are Erdogan’s views surprising? Not in the least bit. Erdogan was an apprentice of Necmettin Erbakan, the founding father of what is basically the Turkish Muslim Brotherhood: Milli Görü? What is surprising is that Western politicians, most of them very EUminded, chose to ignore the nature and ideology of Islamists, and instead steered their policy and demands toward abolishing the only institution that could keep them at bay: the Turkish armed forces.

But now, in response to Erdogan’s tyrannical ideology manifesting itself on the Turkish streets, the same politicians are finally, if reluctantly, speaking out against Erdogan and are publicly doubting the desirability of having Turkey as an EU member state. Although the fact that they dare to speak out is a good thing, I can’t help but think the EU worldview has about the same predictive power as the weatherman that forecasts a heavy snowfall for today only after having looked out his window this morning to see his city covered in snow. They should have seen it coming, but their utopian worldview did not allow them to.

European politicians are now condemning Erdogan for his tyrannical behavior, but the fact is that Europe is complicit in the consolidation of Islamist power in Turkey. The EU demand to abolish the Turkish military gave Erdogan unprecedented legitimacy in the continuation of a battle between theocracy and secularism, a battle that predates Turkey’s EU bid by close to a century.

It was on the wings of this newfound legitimacy that Erdogan was able to act more boldly and dismiss or incarcerate high-ranking military personal in mock trials.

But their boldness is not confined to Turkish soil. The Turkish minister of European affairs, Egemen Bagis, told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that he hoped she would abandon her objection to Turkey becoming an EU member state. He then had the sheer audacity to basically gave her a June 24 ultimatum to “repair her mistakes, or there would be consequences.”

The Dutch and Germans have yet to yield, but EU/Turkey talks are set to resume in October. This simply shows that soft-hearted EU figures are no match for the alpha male, street-fighter mentality of the Turks.

In a 1952 dinner after Turkey’s admission to NATO, a Turkish general was asked how he felt about his new American ally. He said: “The problem with having the Americans as your allies is you never know when they’ll turn around and stab themselves in the back.”

Today, President Barack Obama is good buddies with Erdogan and has repeatedly stated that Turkey should serve as an example to the Islamic world. The EU is aiding in the marginalization of the Turkish armed forces, which are indeed dictatorial, but by their nature friendly to the West, and thus paving the way for the consolidation of the power of a hostile ideology: political Islam.

The Turkish general’s fear in 1952 still seems justified in the 21st century.

On this matter, the West has truly and thoroughly stabbed itself in the back.

The writer is a Dutch master student in clinical psychology and works for the largest Dutch independent political blog.

July 2, 2013 | 56 Comments »

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50 Comments / 56 Comments

  1. “the emasculated, metrosexual western male of today…”

    Rather excoriative, don’t you think, Laura? As a boxing trainer I’ve met a few Canadian vets who saw a lot of combat in Helmand province and many of their friends (American soldiers included) die in battle. You step into the ring with any of these guys, even if they’re not polished at the sport of boxing, you better pack a lunch. They are far from emasculated. Canadian soldiers suffered a casualty rate ten times higher than our allies during this war. When they walk into the club, all the fighters step aside for them, like the parting of the Red Sea.

  2. Soon or later he will overplay his hand. The Kurds need to fight for their independence. What they see the little sultan do should wake them up!!!

  5. yamit82 Said:

    It’s all Bush’s fault….

    guess he did something good by throwing the cat among the hens and now they are all fighting each other. 🙂

  7. yamit82 Said:

    “There is no coherent Arab coalition,” a senior U.S. official said Monday, adding that the divisions now could spur a power struggle in the future. In one camp, said the officials, are Qatar and Turkey, whose leaders are supportive of a political Islam that is gaining hold in Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and Libya. Qatar and Turkey have shown particular support for the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement whose politicians now dominate the governments in Cairo and Tunis and are active in Syria’s opposition.
    A second camp is led by Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and Jordan, Sunni monarchies whose royal families are hostile toward the Muslim Brotherhood and its potential for destabilizing their own political and economic systems, said these officials.

    I do not agree with this assessment. My readings tell me different. It is true that there was competitiveness and hostilities between saudi and qatar a few years ago including about a pipeline from qatar through saudi waters to kuwait. however, other readings have informed me that there was a a rapprochement where qatar has been courting the saudis and proving their dependability. at one time qatar was very independent gcc policies and even had rapprochement with Iran. However, it appears obvious that qatar now appears to be the face man stepping out front and is very active in the anti iranian sunni shia jihad. Qatar appears mainly to influence the MB and saudi the AQ and salfis. I think that they now cooperate fully on those issues of importance to them both and that the appearance of any split is past gone but may be maintained to play a venison of good cop bad cop “It wasn’t me, it was AQ and I’m MB” I believe that is a red herring to appear that there are many elements including the FSA but that saudi controls one set of jihadis and clerics and qatar another set but they are working together in Libya,syria, hezbullah and Iran. Thsi also helps the US maintain a narrative of all these disparate jihadis and rebels and that the US is not involved(LOL) I believe that turkey, not being an arab and being meddling in gcc spheres of influence(like iran did) is not appreciated by gcc. I believe that it is the uS that coordinates and brokers the deals between nato,turkey,egypt,gcc, Jordan and Israel. I think the GCC are not happy with turkey meddling in gaza just as iran did and then stole their israel card. qatar has taken back egypt and hamas for the saudis and gcc like a cat would bring you a mouse as a gift. I see the sunni arab states and jihadis on one side and the shia states and jihdis on the other with china and russia operating towards the shia side but purely as so far as to protect their interests and or make gains. I see Israel fence-sitting but going along witth the US brokered deals with GCC, Turkey, egypt,jordan as long as they prove successful in weakening hezbullah and syria and leashing gaza. I believe the GCC is trying to lure Israel into being more active in their sunni war in exchange for their leashing of hamas, weakening of syria, hezbullah and then destabilizing Iran. Plus I suspect they are offering Israel to lower their backing of the PA and get the PA to give up some land under the guise of entering a confed with Jordan. that is what I think the faux state was about because confed was discussed in 1980’s but only to come after a pal state: hence the fake pal state. I suspect that the GCC monarchies may be seeking to abandon their anti israel card because of a greater fear of the persians and not wanting Israel at their back as an enemy. also, I suspect they are seeking to make a lot of money as the energy shifts outside of their boundaries. EG offshore gas along med coast and gaza plus a bite of africas resources and transits to europe across med….but I think Israel is cautious and going step by step to see how each step plays out and because the fly in everybody’s ointment is russia. however, I do not believe russia is beyond deal making on its own behalf. The importance of the med basin countries and transit is very strategic to bring resources to europe and from africa. this is why I believe eu played a larger role in libya, tunisia, syria and in Mali, etc.. I see turkey as operating for its pipelines and a cut of the gas, i think it failed on being the new caliph because erdogan is a massive buffoon who alienated absolutely everyone. i wouldn’t be surprised if he has his egyptian spring next. Of course the US looks a fool in brokering Turkey with everyone else including Israel.

  11. @ honeybee:

    Got to get to bed I have a fever now for the last 48 hrs from a recurring strep infection. That’s why I haven’t replied especially to AH doctor’s defamation and slurs against me but if he’s still around I will nail his sorry ass to a pole.

  16. honeybee Said:

    There is always some Texan to blame.

    He ain’t no real Texan. He’s originally from Main. Notice brother Jeb has no drawl at all. Bush is an ersatz Texan. I bet he can’t ride a horse neither.

  18. @ bernard ross:

    Curiouser and curiouser

    Turkish Defense Purchases From China, Troubling Behavior Stirs Turkey-NATO Tensions

    Divisions among the U.S.’s closest Arab and Muslim allies are imperiling the Obama administration’s efforts to forge unified responses to crises in the Middle East, including Syria’s civil war and Egypt’s economic turmoil…

    The regional divisions, described by senior U.S., European and Arab officials, are driven by religious, political and economic rivalries that have been exacerbated by the revolutions and rebellions that have swept across the Mideast and North Africa since early 2011.

    “There is no coherent Arab coalition,” a senior U.S. official said Monday, adding that the divisions now could spur a power struggle in the future.

    In one camp, said the officials, are Qatar and Turkey, whose leaders are supportive of a political Islam that is gaining hold in Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and Libya. Qatar and Turkey have shown particular support for the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement whose politicians now dominate the governments in Cairo and Tunis and are active in Syria’s opposition.

    A second camp is led by Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and Jordan, Sunni monarchies whose royal families are hostile toward the Muslim Brotherhood and its potential for destabilizing their own political and economic systems, said these officials.

  24. yamit82 Said:

    Perseus was killed by Dionysus

    Just thought I would set the record straight. 😛

    I didn’t know that my namesake was a killer!

  25. yamit82 Said:

    I don’t think they are running sacred of Muslims I think they are using them.

    what are they using them for, to cut off soldiers heads, to block traffic 5 times a day, to institute sharia law?

  26. yamit82 Said:

    Open borders adding another 10-20 million undereducated Muslims into Europe is desirable for EU countries?

    What’s in it for Europe to bring in Turkey? America being in favor and even pushing for Turkish inclusion into Europe alone should be a non starter.

    I agree, i don’t now want Turkey to join the EU, i just said that the reason they are probably not going to let Turkey in is economic.

  28. yamit82 Said:

    Is the UK now banning ALL Jews from entry because Muslims find Jews offensive?

    jewish orgs too busy standing up for muslims to help jews. This yeoman shuld have been hunted down and picketed to be fired and personally sued to try and bankrupt him and his family. the IRA would have threatened to kill his family and the muslims probably would have killed them without threat. There needs to be quid pro quos and retribution.

  32. @ bernard ross:

    They will get nowhere because the issue is bigger than Geller and Spencer for those protecting and apologizing for Muslims.

    They also banned Moshe Feiglin.

    Britain reaffirms its ban on Michael Savage
    Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2011/05/303069/#1pLOgd6usi6JRVfx.99

    Is the UK now banning ALL Jews from entry because Muslims find Jews offensive?

    Apparently before the UK banned Pamela Geller, also Jewish, they denied entry to a young Kansas Jewish man, Chip Cantor, after the customs agent saw Israeli stamps in his passport. After being detained for more than nine hours, he was put back on a plane to the United States, yet never told why he was being denied entry.
    CUSTOMS agent tells the employer for whom Chip Cantor would have been working: “the little Jew will be on his way back to his rich daddy, in a matter of hours.”
    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    Don’t think Jews are very welcome in Britain. Melanie Phillips comments should be understood on the context of all the anti Jewish behavior of official and unofficial Brits. I don’t think they are running sacred of Muslims I think they are using them.

  33. @ honeybee:

    Exactly!!! Those were the popular stories when I was there but never saw it myself. I think those stories related to the actual war years and I served many years after the war. There was a valley we called Greek Valley as a whole Greek contingent was wiped out there.

  36. @ dionissis mitropoulos:

    Open borders adding another 10-20 million undereducated Muslims into Europe is desirable for EU countries?

    What’s in it for Europe to bring in Turkey? America being in favor and even pushing for Turkish inclusion into Europe alone should be a non starter.

  39. bernard ross Said:

    you appear to have become more aggressive

    Not aggressive, i was speaking in defense of metrosexuals 😛

    bernard ross Said:

    did you see that sick beheading video with all the children attending?

    Seen it and bookmarked it for future debates.

    bernard ross Said:

    these are the same people who riot on the west bank.

    I know, i keep on collecting videos with their beautiful behavior and the upbringing of their children.

    bernard ross Said:

    Every day my heart is further hardened to those that subscribe to the sick mind cult. for me it is like a member of the nazi party who pretends that they are not culpable because they are not doing it themselves. How is it possible for one who to belong to that cult and pretend to be human. i cannot imagine anyone not feeling shame to belong to that sick club. I know of no other group on the planet today that comes near their blood curdling sick behavior. they are totally schizoid with their warped moralities.

    The Palestinians are the worst of the Islamists. Palestinian culture (imbued in Islamism) is the most morally depraved culture of the 21st century.

    bernard ross Said:

    They are a global danger to mankind.

    Civilization has reached the point where, nowadays, we even try to change any words that might perpetuate sexism (changing ‘mankind’ to ‘humankind’ for example :P). But almost 90% of Muslims believe that women should be subservient to men. Meaning, they are Islamists. So, yes, they represent a global danger.

    bernard ross Said:

    I dont understand the EU state of denial.

    I now believe it is mainly due to moral narcissism. As Dr Landes puts it, the Euros want to present themselves as the cutting edge of morality, so they play sensitive/tolerant with the Islamists that point a gun at them. And, taking it a step further, it is the fact that Israel has been behaving incredibly morally under the harsh conditions it faces, that makes the Euros (especially the so-called liberals) jealous of the Israeli culture and its self-restraint towards the Pals (that’s Dr Landes’ argument on why the Left is anti Israel: they are jealous because every Lefty movement in history turned into totalitarianism as soon as it faced challenges similar to the ones Israel now faces, and yet Israel remains democratic).

    bernard ross Said:

    welcome back.

    Not yet! I relapsed! But i did lots of link-bookmarking. Not that i am done yet, i now want to concentrate on the Goldstone Report demolition, because it contains the sort of arguments that we hear whenever Israel undertakes a large scale anti-terrorist operation like Cast Lead or Pillar of Defense. You haven’t forgotten that we will be joining the cognitive war, right? 😛

  40. dionissis mitropoulos Said:

    By bombing them back to the Stone Age. You don’t need masculinity to push the button.

    welcome back. you appear to have become more aggressive, did you see that sick beheading video with all the children attending? these are the same people who riot on the west bank. Every day my heart is further hardened to those that subscribe to the sick mind cult. for me it is like a member of the nazi party who pretends that they are not culpable because they are not doing it themselves. How is it possible for one who to belong to that cult and pretend to be human. i cannot imagine anyone not feeling shame to belong to that sick club. I know of no other group on the planet today that comes near their blood curdling sick behavior. they are totally schizoid with their warped moralities. They are a global danger to mankind. I dont understand the EU state of denial. however, Otter posted a good video from bill warner with an interesting perspective on the historical expansion of islam. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Qpy0mXg8Y

  43. The Dutch and Germans have yet to yield, but EU/Turkey talks are set to resume in October.

    I don’t know details, but it is for financial reasons that the EU has second thoughts to allowing Turkey in. It is said that it will cost the EU too much in subsidizing the Turkish civil infrastructure.

  44. the phoenix Said:

    It’s the RESOLVE, that is required.
    That is sadly lacking from ALL irrespective of where on the gender spectrum they fall…

    I agree.
    Are you doing ok? Long time no see.

  45. @ dionissis mitropoulos:

    You don’t need masculinity to push the button

    It’s the RESOLVE, that is required.
    That is sadly lacking from ALL irrespective of where on the gender spectrum they fall…

  46. yamit82 Said:

    They prided themselves on their brutality.

    I met a Greek Turk in the Army (it’s compulsory in Greece, too). He was a vulgar.

  47. Laura Said:

    How can the emasculated, metrosexual western male of today possibly fight islam?

    By bombing them back to the Stone Age. You don’t need masculinity to push the button.

  48. @ yamit82:

    I had a neighbor who was with Turkish Forces during the Korean War. He said that evey night the Turks would strip down to nothing but their pantaloons and a simatar,crawl over the earthen mounds, that surrounded the encampment,and into night. They would not return again until they had severed some North Korean’s head, caring the bloody thing by its hair.

  49. I served with a Turkish Battalion under UN command in Korea. Of all the contingents making up the Command in Korea the Turks were most feared by the Koreans. They prided themselves on their brutality.

    Brutality in Islam did not originate in Islam but was part of the general cultures that later became Muslim Some of which were more brutal than the Arab Muslims like the Turks.

  50. This simply shows that soft-hearted EU figures are no match for the alpha male, street-fighter mentality of the Turks.

    Exactly, and this is the case when confronted by muslims in general. How can the emasculated, metrosexual western male of today possibly fight islam?