US-Turkish Relations: In Search of a Comfortable Footstool
Links US-Turkish Relations: In Search of a Comfortable Footstool March 11, 2014 (Tony Cartalucci – New Eastern Outlook ) – It began in Istanbul’s Gezi Park where we are excepted to believe protests over 2.5 million strong (.pdf ) stemmed from opposition to a development project. AFP would report in its article, “ Turkish protesters have long list of complaints ,†that: What started as a small group opposed to a development project in Istanbul has become an outpouring of national anger over how the Islamist-rooted government treats its citizens, testing Ankara’s quest to be a model country in its neighborhood. Turks are increasingly frustrated about what they see as restrictions on their freedom after a series of last-minute reforms were rushed through parliament by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which enjoys an overwhelming majority. “This is a movement which is a result of growing frustration and disappointment among secular segments of society who could not influence politics over the last decade,†said Sinan Ulgen, visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe. “This is an unprecedented, abrupt and unplanned public movement that has not been manipulated by any political party.
