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[scriver]

So we have an intelligent and diligent statesman who at best doesn't give a crap if Saudi money funds terrorism (and at worst only says he doesn't care to hide that he wants to support terrorism) who may or may not be descending into dementia.

Great.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

It isn't like his predecessor was much better, or likely that effective in recent years if he wasn't.

If Salaman is getting dementia he's on his last couple of years at most, nobody lasts for long after that.

[Owlbread]

Noo! Oh wait, I thought that said Jordan.

Carry on.

One of my great Uncles is a radio ham. He was good friends with the previous King of Jordan, had quite a long and fruitful correspondence.

It isn't like his predecessor was much better, or likely that effective in recent years if he wasn't.

If Salaman is getting dementia he's on his last couple of years at most, nobody lasts for long after that.

Especially if it's so advanced that it's noticeable now. Within 5-6 years he might need to be replaced.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Shit has hit the fan in Turkey. There's a guy on Reddit currently assembling what's going on, minute by minute.

Long story short, apparently the millitary and secular protesters have, in a couple of hours, gotten themselves into a fight with the Turkish police.

Leatra, you out there?

[SalmonGod]

Shit has hit the fan in Turkey. There's a guy on Reddit currently assembling what's going on, minute by minute.

Long story short, apparently the millitary and secular protesters have, in a couple of hours, gotten themselves into a fight with the Turkish police.

Leatra, you out there?

I've been seeing photos of dead and severely wounded Turkish protesters all day, beginning shortly before I went to bed this morning.  It looks pretty ugly.  My Occupy feeds were talking about action in a couple hundred cities around the world today, that may more may not be Occupy-related (there was something about claiming Liberty Square again at least for the day and I should look into how that went), but it looks like things just got really, really bad in Turkey.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

People getting hurt is unfortunate, but as far as I'm concerned this is a good thing. Erdogan has had this coming for a long time.

Military is definitely with the protestors, they're even giving out gas masks.

Now getting reports of mass defections from the police force to the protesters. There was also something about an anarchist football club stealing a riot control vehicle, which is...interesting.

[SalmonGod]

In other words, it's turned into something more than a protest.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I don't really think you can start calling them rebels until they have guns too.

Hopefully this time some further steps are taken to prevent Islamists from rising to power again.

[Zangi]

I don't really think you can start calling them rebels until they have guns too.

Hopefully this time some further steps are taken to prevent Islamists from rising to power again.

You mean prevent them from taking part in the political process?

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I don't really think you can start calling them rebels until they have guns too.

Hopefully this time some further steps are taken to prevent Islamists from rising to power again.

You mean prevent them from taking part in the political process?

Not necessarily. I'm not much one for group suppression, even if it is a group as unlikable as Islamists. I was thinking something more along the lines of writing hardline secularism into their Constitution. No laws based on religion. At all. Ever.

Edit: It just occurred to me that the Kurds in Turkey might make their move because of this. Between Iraqi and Syrian Kurdistan they stand a chance.

[misko27]

Appearantly earlier some protestors grabbed a mega_phone and demanded the police surrender.

Well, this is interesting. Give me the most likely estimate, assuming you had to put down $250., of the time frame we got here. Days probaly. Week or 2. But it could also happen within hours.

[Sheb]

MSH, we're talking about Turkey here, until the AK came into power, they were going as far as banning the hijab from universities. Its government is not more religious that the GOP.

[palsch]

I've yet to find any serious analysis of what's going on, so just going by what's been posted here;

It's well worth remembering that the Turkish military is viewed as the main secular force in that country. Or rather, they are viewed as the guardians of Kemalism, one of the main pillars of which is secularism in the French sense.

[SalmonGod]

All my activism-related feeds are in an uproar.  I guess today (had to pause and think for a moment there because I'm about to leave work, so it would be tomorrow for me) is when the action in Liberty Square is going to happen, plus supposedly 100 European cities.

[Leafsnail]

Spoiler: A protester (click to show/hide)

Apparently it started as a sit-in at a park that was planned to be demolished.