Atilla's Musings

REVEALED: How Gulf states hatched plan with Israel to rehabilitate Assad

Source:Middle East Eye Date:13Jan2019

I consider MEE a reliable source, but this analysis is highly controversial. On the other hand, perusing through the commentary in Turkey’s pro-AKP press, I do see several references to

Read More

Turkish ‘brain drain’: Why are defense industry officials ditching their jobs in Turkey for work abroad?

Source:Defense News Date:09Jan2019

After the NYT article claiming large number of white Turks migrating in fear of crack-down on basic liberties, the Presidential Palace  issued a denial, claiming net migration was much lower.

Read More

Who is Fethullah Gulen? And why is the US talking about extraditing him to Turkey?

Source:RNS Religious News Date:05Jan2019

Even though US administration would not officially confirm it, an American delegation is in Turkey to investigate whether controversial Pastor Fethullah Gulen (Sunni) has been involved in the

Read More

Spurning Erdogan’s Vision, Turks Leave in Droves, Draining Money and Talent

Source:New York Times Date:04Jan2019

How authoritarianism kills Turkey’s future: More than a quarter of a million Turks emigrated in 2017, according to the Turkish Institute of Statistics, an increase of 42 percent over 2016,

Read More

SYRIAN REGIME, TURKEY, MANEUVER TO TAKE KEY SYRIAN CITY AS U.S. WITHDRAWS

Source:Jerusalem Post Date:30Dec2018

Confusion surrounds the city of Manbij, a critical crossing point coveted by Turkey and assad, currently controlled by SDF, or pro-PKK Kurdish PYD-YPG militia.   While Russian and Syrian accounts

Read More

TURKEY & IRAN: ENERGY, ECONOMY & POLITICS IN THE FACE OF SANCTIONS

Source:Natural Gas World Date:24Dec2018

An in-depth study of Turkey-Iran relationship and its futre in light of US sanctions regime   While Turkey and Iran have long been geopolitical antagonists, the two countries have a history

Read More

The Rise and Fall of Turkish Soft Power

Source:MDC Date:17Dec2018

A succint analysis of how Turkey went from the darling of West to bad  boy:   Nonetheless, Turkey’s period of experimentation with soft power was rather short lived, as was its appeal to

Read More

Turkey: Elections, crisis and repression

Source:International Viewpoint Date:11Dec2018

This is thorough analysis of the Turkish political landscape post-24 June elections. Worth reading for the Turkey novice, as well as the pundit who wishes to experience a different viewpoint:

Read More

As US turns on Astana, Turkey looks east of the Euphrates

Source:Middle East Eye Date:09Dec2018

The Turkish government is holding separate talks on Syria with both the US and Russian governments amid concerns that it is losing diplomatic leverage as the security situation deteriorates in

Read More

In the Middle East, Russia is back

Source:Washington Post Date:05Dec2018

Among the presidents, prime ministers, kings and princes who have traveled to Moscow over the past year to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin are some of the United States’ closest

Read More