[March 17, 2019] The recent terror attack that killed 49 at two New Zealand mosques has pushed Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan into the news again. Just as U.S. politician Rahm Emanuel said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste,” Erdoğan has again railed against the West for its on-going debauchery and its complacency in the discrimination against and deaths of Muslims.
From recent news stories, an “immigrant-hating white supremacist” is responsible and is now held on charges for murder.1 The gunman left a 74-page manifesto that he posted on social media and he live-streamed his attack on Facebook. The reason for his rampage, he claimed, was to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims. World leaders appropriately condemned the violent act as unacceptable in a civilized world.2
Erdoğan is using this “crisis” as an excuse to further his agenda to unite the entire Islamic world. His goal could be a good thing if not for his virulent anti-American and anti-West sentiments. His mission to unite Islam is a monumental task but one that he has worked at least since he was elected Prime Minister in 2003.
This horrific terror attack on innocents in New Zealand may be the one event that pushes more radicals into Erdoğan’s circle of ideas. Since his rise to Turkey’s president, the country has experienced political purges, the jailing of opponents, human rights violations, curtailing of the press, and the broadening of his executive powers and minimization of accountability. This is a slide toward tyranny which is common in political structures that mimic socialism.
This is a man who is a powerful leader in every aspect. Strongman governments, like the one in Turkey, can be very successful on the world stage. And Turkey has done this. By being admitted to NATO, being part of the Iraq War as a member of the Coalition of the Willing, expanding trade agreements, normalization of relations with Greece, etc., Erdoğan has made many positive moves to increase Turkey’s standing in the world.
What will come of Turkey over the next few years is anyone’s guess. What we do know is that Turkey has a president that is aggressive, powerful, and willing to use everything at his disposal to advance the cause of Islam. While this could be a positive path to enter the 21st Century, it is anybody’s guess how it will end.
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- https://apnews.com/ce9e1d267af149dab40e3e5391254530
- What world leaders have failed to do is condemn attacks on Christians throughout the world. In the country of Nigeria, it was reported last month that over 130 Christians were killed by Muslims. This is, of course, being ignored because it doesn’t fit the PC agenda of Western politicians. https://amgreatness.com/2019/03/16/media-gorges-itself-on-hatred-while-ignoring-atrocities/
Erdogan is dangerous in many ways. But he is still the leader of Turkey. He sees an opening in the recent New Zealand shooting and he will take advantage of it to show that Muslims are being persecuted. This is just him using Western PC ideology against us.
Albert. Yes, and why not. Erdogan is a smart man. Anyone that uses his enemies weakness against that enemy is playing it smart.
Western nations are raising a bunch of pansy young people. They are weak physically and mentally. Forget religion, these snowflakes think they are god’s gift to humanity.
Spot-on comment, Maureen. Thanks. I had to laugh to myself when I read it.
All thumbs up comment, Albert. Thanks.
Thanks Gen. Satterfield for another good article. I’m just relaxing here on a Sunday morning before heading off to church services. I see from one of your footnotes (#2) that Christians are still being persecuted and the world is largely ignoring it. This is common practice; while any hangnail that a Muslim gets is blamed on the US.
The USA is also doing its best to knock Turkey off the world stage. Cheers!
“Trump Threatens to ‘Devastate Turkey Economically’ if It Attacks Kurds”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/13/us/politics/trump-turkey-kurds.html
Joe, I know you’re not from the US but the NYT is a very anti-Trump and mostly anti-US publication, so I wouldn’t take what they say as the truth. Pres Trump is doing what he can to limit a totalitarian govt from achieving more power. That is a good thing.
It is a good education here when I read about other leaders in the world, past, and present. I would hope that those like Erdogan take a close look at what they are doing to their people and hold back. They have impoverished their citizens. But, that is what socialist-like countries do. And believe me, Turkey is socialist int he way the government carries out its policies.
Good points. While Western nations fight themselves, non-Christian countries grow. I’m thinking of Turkey, China, Russia. None of these are friendly to any Western country.
Another good comment, as typical of Max. Thank you.
🙂 I agree.
Turkey’s president is a dangerous man because he adheres to a radical version of Islam.