nrupatunga
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It seems that there's also a intra-AKP fight going on as well, with non-erdogan faction (backed by uncle sam) trying to do a coup within AKP to gain control of party and thereafter the country.
Turkey's Sultan cracks the whip
Turkey's Sultan cracks the whip
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, who prides himself as a follower of Gulen, said there was no need of AKP workers flocking to the airport as a show of strength to receive Erdogan on his arrival from the 4-day Maghreb tour on Friday morning. But the Istanbul party units of the AKP at the local level ignored Arinc's opinion. And tens of thousands of AKP workers flock to the Ataturk Airport to greet Erdogan who arrived at 1.45 am. Arinc apologized to the protestors while Erdogan was abroad. Now, Erdogan returns to make it clear he is not budging from his decision and he has no regrets.
The battle lines are drawn. There is an ominous touch to Erdogan's decision to convene a meeting of the highest decision-making body of the AKP. Significantly, he is staying put in Istanbul, which is his power base, and asking his party leaders to go there rather than to Ankara. Erdogan is going to crack the whip at those within the party who hoped to bring about an "in-house" coup at Gulen's behest with tacit American backing.
Like in any colour revolution, all sorts of elements have jumped into the anti-Erdogan bandwagon ranging from Kemalists, communists and anarchists to Islamist extremists — and, of course, genuine environmentalists and idealistic youth.
But essentially, this is a a concerted effort from behind the scene to unseat Erdogan while perpetuating the AKP rule under the leadership of a trusted follower of Fetullah Gulen such as Erinc or Gul.
But the attempt will fail because the AKP is Erdogan — and Erdogan is AKP. The party's phenomenal rise is almost entreily due to his charisma and political vision and his great organizing capacity.
There is a subtle attempt to project Erinc and Gul as "founding fathers" or members of the "triumvira" of the AKP, but it is a silly joke. It is Erdogan who fired up the Anatolian Turk and Erinc, Gul have been largely beneficiaries of Erdogan's rise.
The Obama administration made a grave error of judgment by encouraging Gulen to move against Erdogan. True, Erdogan is not the kind of person who can be trusted to pursue the American diktat. But then, he is a proud Turk and he knows he draws his strength from the people.
