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2.5 Blood stakes
The past year presented few opportunities for Erdogan to create some expeditionary military “attractions.” Not that he won’t chase up any chances he gets in the coming year.
Even the PKK, a Kurdish separatist terrorist organisation that over the years has been a handy target for the Erdogan regime whenever it has needed some bloody action, has not produced much for the gun sights.
The jihadist groups backed by Erdogan remain a ticking bomb. Recently, one jihadist cut the head off a student in Antalya. Another targeted three Syrian workers while they were sleeping in Izmir, leaving them with burns. On December 28, somebody attacked a pro-Kurdish HDP office in Istanbul.
With the military “attractions” route somewhat exhausted, officials are focusing on geeing up Turks with natural gas and gold “discoveries”, which in reality don’t exist, at least not in a feasible way for exploitation and not to anywhere near the extent claimed.
The hunger gauge and social tension are high. Everyone awaits some violence from the regime. Erdogan keeps the taut political tension alive with menacing threats (such as threats to seize the opposition-run municipalities or close the pro-Kurdish HDP party).
21 TURKEY Country Report February 2022 www.intellinews.com