This “security check” is hardly the action of a friend and ally. It is odd that Erdogan, who has been so friendly with Obama, would think he had a hand in the coup, but in any case, this just reemphasizes that rapidly re-Islamizing Turkey is no friend or ally of the United States, and should not be treated as one.
“1,000s Turkish forces surround NATO’s Incirlik air base for ‘inspection’ amid rumors of coup attempt,” RT, July 30, 2016:
Some 7,000 armed police in heavy vehicles surrounded the Incirlik air base used by NATO forces in Adana in what a Turkish minister called a “security check.” With no official explanation, speculations have arisen about a new coup attempt or VIP visit.
Hurriyet reported earlier that Adana police had been tipped off about a new coup attempt, and forces were immediately alerted. The entrance to the base was closed off.Security forces armed with rifles and armored TOMA vehicles used by Turkish riot police could be seen at the site in photos taken by witnesses.@Brasco_Aad These heavy dump trucks are being made ready to enter #Incirlik Air Base (are they trying to close it?) pic.twitter.com/UQlGAv5FsC
— Brasco_Aad (@Brasco_Aad) July 30, 2016
#Tatvan derken#incirlik üssünde olağanüstü hareketlilik.#PÖH giriş çıkışları tutmuş tetikte bekliyor. pic.twitter.com/TSsqHW9Ydk
— Levent Tekin (@Levent_Tekin) July 30, 2016
Turkey’s minister for EU Affairs downplayed the situation in a Twitter post, saying a “security inspection” was carried out.
ADANA’dayım. İncirlik veya Adana’daki başka yerle ilgili bir sıkıntı yok. Genel güvenlik değerlendirmesi de yaptık. Herhangi bir sorun yok
— Ömer Çelik (@omerrcelik) July 30, 2016
“We did the general security check. There is nothing wrong,” he tweeted from Adana.
Some supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have reportedly flocked to the cordon surrounding the base. The scene, however, did not appear as massive and tense as the recent Adana protests demanding for the base to be shut down.
More and more Pro AK Parti / Erdogan supporters (Turkish #NDF) arrive at the gates of #Incirlik Air Base. pic.twitter.com/2lfsl0bjh4
— Brasco_Aad (@Brasco_Aad) July 30, 2016
On Thursday, a huge rally marched towards the NATO base, as people with loudspeakers chanted anti-American and anti-Israel slogans. The demonstrators claim that the US had a hand in the failed July 15 coup attempt in which 270 people died. Tens of thousands people, including members of the military, police, judiciary, media, and civil service, have been arrested in connection with the coup, which Turkish officials say was organized by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, Erdogan’s former ally, who is now his most hated rival….