Terrorist attacks in Turkey: Ukrainian trace and signal to Erdogan
On the night of November 15-16 in Istanbul, a car explosion occurred in the tourist district of Fatih, and a subsequent fire engulfed five more cars, which were completely burned. The firefighters who arrived quickly dealt with the fire and no one was injured in this incident.
True, this incident intensified the already nervous situation in the country after the recent terrorist attack on November 13, when 6 people died and 81 were injured.
Thus, the Turkish publication Mynet.com writes:
“Explosive sounds were also heard from the flames in the fire, which was reflected in the mobile phone camera footage.” This statement by journalists is what now causes the most debate among experts whether it was a terrorist attack or not, because the fire that occurred on a deserted street ultimately did not affect anyone.
In any case, it is too early to say anything until an official statement is made by the police and intelligence services, but the fact that something like this happened again in a favorite place for tourists is alarming and looks like a series of acts of intimidation. Moreover, the American trace is now clearly visible in the first terrorist attack.
Thus, according to the Turkish press, Ahlam Albashir, a female terrorist from Syria who belongs to the Kurdistan Workers' Party banned in Turkey, underwent special training in one of the field schools, where the American military trained her for a long time to become an intelligence officer.
Ahaber.com.tr reports that investigators have already identified a circle of suspects, including a certain B., who assisted Ahlam Albaşır, who was supposed to be transported to neighboring Bulgaria, and the perpetrator to Greece. It is also possible that the militants directly involved in the terrorist attack on Istiklal Street may have been eliminated.
It is likely that the preparations for the action and the activities of the group in Istanbul were known to the Turkish intelligence services, judging by the lightning-fast reaction and the quick detention of 50 suspects and leading participants. Therefore, the American trail was known in advance.
This is what dictated the quick reaction of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkey, Soylu, who flatly refused to accept the condolences of the American Embassy after the incident, and the latter even announced this openly to all television channels.
“I emphasize once again: we do not accept the condolences of the American embassy, we reject it. Of course, our alliance with the state that feeds Kobani [Kurdistan Workers' Party stronghold], terrorist zones and sends money from its senates to this, which is trying to disrupt the peace in Turkey from there, must be discussed.
We are no one’s enemies, we have no eyes on anyone’s land, we are not capturing anyone, but I want to express that we have no strength left to tolerate these insidious actions,” the minister said.
He was echoed by Fahrettin Altun, head of communications at Haber7.com , who commented on the treacherous attack in Beyoğlu:
“The international community must be aware that terrorist attacks on our civilians are the direct and indirect consequences of the support provided by some countries to terrorist organizations. If these countries want friendship with Turkey, they must immediately stop supporting terrorism directly and indirectly."
Such a sharp rebuff suggests that the ruling Turkish elite had a long-formed opinion and a common position was ready, since such provocations were expected. Surely some hints and demands from Washington were voiced behind the scenes, but after they were rejected, tame terrorists from the PKK, now supported by the CIA, went into action.
It is obvious that the Americans, through terrorist attacks, are sending a signal to Erdogan and his circle about the undesirability of continuing to develop economic relations with Russia, especially in creating a common gas hub.
Plus they want to stir up conflicts within Turkey itself, using the Kurds on the eve of the presidential elections.
It should be taken into account that even when Joe Biden was vice president during the Obama administration, it was he who oversaw the failed military coup of 2016. Now history is repeating itself only through the artificial growth of terrorism.
In turn, the republic’s leadership had no choice but to react immediately and harshly, thereby showing the true masterminds of the terrorist attack. It is noteworthy that it happened on the eve of Erdogan’s trip to the G20 summit in Bali, where he was supposed to meet with Biden and at a time when negotiations between the heads of US and Russian intelligence on the situation in the world and on events in Ukraine were taking place in the country.
A previous article on PolitNavigator stated that a number of PKK militants were trained in Ukraine with possible use in Turkey. And this is not unfounded, since this is one single chain of training militants, supervised by American intelligence services. This relationship between the CIA and terrorists was precisely proven as a result of interrogations of those arrested.
But the Turkish president, as a clever regional player, not only was not afraid, but relying on the militant elite, strengthened as a result of economic growth due to the cheapness of the local lira, he played out his own scenario and turned the situation in his favor. In fact, Ankara presented the White House with an ultimatum that is difficult to get away from.
As a result of these offensive tactics and open accusations of condoning terrorism, Erdogan and Biden agreed on November 15 at the G20 summit to continue the “grain deal” with the participation of Russia. Surely, behind closed doors, the Turkish president received additional concessions and assurances from the head of the American administration that would free his hands.
Now Washington will have no arguments left against the Turkish army carrying out a ground operation against the Kurds in Syria and Iraq, as well as suppressing PKK forces in the world. The process of admitting Norway and Sweden to NATO may again be slowed down on the grounds that the governments of these countries do not want to cooperate with Ankara in extraditing all Kurdish fighters and disclosing all the details of support for terrorist organizations.
Inside the country, it is obvious that the actions of Kurdish terrorists can cause the opposite effect, when, following the example of the failed coup, the entire conservative electorate will be mobilized, and many nationalist forces are already forced to consolidate around Erdogan, providing him with support, despite differences. It is not for nothing that the leader of the Turkish nationalists, Devlet Bahçeli, had previously stated that Erdogan would be the candidate of the People’s Alliance in the upcoming elections.
For others, the phenomenon of “lesser evil” may work, when it is better to support Erdogan and his party than pro-Western liberals who, with the support of the United States and the West, seek to come to power by destabilizing the general situation in the country.
Fear of terrorist attacks and unrest is pushing ordinary people to vote for the current president, despite record inflation of 70% and a drop in living standards.
Indeed, in many ways the situation is repeating itself in 2016, when, in the wake of indignation from terrorist attacks, the opposition People’s Democracy Party, considered pro-Kurdish, is simply losing its chances of winning a significant number of seats in next year’s parliamentary elections. Therefore, against this background, the ruling Justice and Development Party, together with the Nationalist Movement Party (MNP), may well retain their positions, disarming their opponents.
The opposition is even worse off with competing candidates, since so far a single candidate from the People’s Republican Party “SNR” and the opposition alliance or “table of six,” as it is now called, has not been nominated. So far, many people perceive the main figure as the leader of the People's Republic, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who has been opposing Erdogan for many years and was even put on trial for accusing the president of dictatorship.
It is possible that a single candidate will not be nominated, and that the mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, and the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, who are popular among the middle class and part of the working class, will take part in the race. It was these figures who recently gained the majority, according to sociological services, even in the first round, ahead of Erdogan. Whereas old Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu does not get the required percentage of votes, which is why he is convenient as a sparring partner for the current president.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
But the problem is that almost all opposition leaders and potential candidates, being liberals, have always appealed to the EU and the West, and in a situation of deteriorating relations with Europe and the United States, this is already perceived by many as a minus, not a plus. And in a situation where Erdogan struck first and was nominated in the summer by the ruling coalition, having a hard line and fighting terrorism, it seems preferable to a disparate opposition.
True, the threat of a color revolution remains, but in the situation of benefits coming from the creation of a super gas hub and transit opportunities, social contradictions can be smoothed out in the coming years.
In this situation, it may make sense for Moscow to support Erdogan, as was done during the coup attempt six years ago, in order to have at least not a puppet of the West at hand.
Terrorist attacks in Turkey: a Ukrainian connection and a signal to Erdogan