Atilla's Musings

Syria’s Idlib emerges as Achilles heel in Russia-Turkey partnership

Source:al Monitor Date:31Jul2018

Best analysis of why at this juncture Turkey’s threat of  a deeper alliance with Russia against American  sanctions is not credible.   There are indications that the Syrian army will

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Turkey’s New Regime And Its Neoliberal Foundations

Source:Social Europe Date:27Jul2018

The economy is overheated; it’s no longer possible to sustain growth through credit pumping. It seems the Turkish economy is on verge of another crisis. Hence, once praised as a model to other

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‘Our bodies are Turkish, our souls Islamic!’ The rise of Turkey’s ultra-nationalists

Source:Middle East Eye Date:23Jul2018

They call themselves idealists. Turkey’s ultra-nationalists, who prefer the Turkish term Ulkucu, have been described in many ways: as hyper-modern politicians and as throwbacks, true

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Battle between Ipek and Ankara reaches new dimensions

Source:The Guardian Date:21Jul2018

Former owner of gold mining concer KOZA and IPEK Groups, Mr Hamdi  Ipek launched a suit at the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington

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The Next Balancing Act for President Erdogan

Source:Fair Obverver Date:14Jul2018

A good historical review of the Republican  tradition and Erdogan’s challenges:  Rebuilding  institutions and taming his nationalist ally MHP.   With few, if any, friends among

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How will Turkey trade with Iran with sanctions back and Halkbank on target?

Source:Hurriyet Daily News Date:11Jul2018

Ms Barcin Yinans answers a crucial quesiton clıuding the near horizon of the Turkish economy. The developments in US-Iran-Turkey triangle.  Note her words on Halkbank case.   Experts had

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THE ROADMAP TO NOWHERE: MANBIJ, TURKEY, AND AMERICA’S DILEMMA IN SYRIA

Source:War on the rocks Date:30Jun2018

Excellent analysis by Aarıon Stein about the importance or the lack thereof  of the Manbij agreement between USA and Turkey. “Tactics without a strategy” comments  Stein, arguing that

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4 takeaways from Turkey’s elections

Source:European Council on Foreign Relations Date:27Jun2018

Despite Erdogan’s win, his ruling party, Justice and Development (AKP), has seen a decline in votes since the November 2015 elections ending at 42.5 percent, thereby making the Turkish president

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Turkey’s Wag-the-Dog Election

Source:Foreign Policy Date:23Jun2018

Actually, this tour-de-force  expose of Erdogan’s alliance with Gulen and the Syrian policy is about Turkey’s foreign policy dilemmas. I recommend a thorough read, though I disagree

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I Am Running for President in Turkey. From My Prison Cell.

Source:New York Times Date:21Jun2018

A must read for those who believe in democracy and fair play:  HDP leader Salahaddin Demirtas’ defense:   I am writing from a maximum-security prison in Edirne, a city in northwestern

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