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gathered through internet searches.
Although it gives the sense that RAND truly has no idea about Turkey, it includes two stark consecutive paragraphs: “Unusual political activity by the military leadership and a general decline in professionalism have alienated lower ranks of the TSK [Turkish Armed Forces]. Mid-level officers are reported to be extremely frustrated with the military leadership. Some observers believe that this discontent might even lead to another coup attempt at some point. Public trust in the military, previously seen as the guardian of order and the secular state, has eroded, but it has been restored somewhat following the success of the TSK’s operations in 2018 against Kurdish forces in Syria’s Afrin province.106
“Throughout this turmoil, Hulusi Akar has remained a key interlocutor for the U.S. and other foreign militaries. His retention of his position as TGS [Turkish General Staff] chief in 2017 and subsequent appointment as Minister of Defense in July 2018 in the first presidential decree under the new executive presidential system suggest that he will continue to be the leading figure in Turkish defense affairs for some time.107”
“106”, it turns out, refers to a news story about a public poll on trust in Turkish institutions. It definitely doesn’t link to anything about “extremely frustrated mid-level army officers” or “Some observers”. “107” takes you to an unremarkable Hurriyet Daily News report on the appointment of Akar’s successor. It presents no information on Akar’s future prospects.
“Guess before [the July attempted coup of] 2016, we had begun to dismiss the prior constant talk of some kind of coup in the offing as fantasy... then 2016 happened. But cannot see anyone trying this again for a very long time..,” Timothy Ash of Bluebay Asset Management said on February 17 in a note to investors.
2.8​ ​Business and consumer confidence surveys
10​ TURKEY Country Report​ March 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com