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are clashes across various neighbourhoods.
The establishment and middle class in Turkey, ranging from the political sphere to the media, do not seem to be aware just how grave the situation is in the country.
Turkey’s southern border area is essentially a battlefield running from one end to the other. In addition to the threat posed by hostile Kurds, pro-Turkey jihadists could at any time turn on Turkey.
What’s more, there are some al-Qaeda offshoots (dark green on the map, across Idlib region) present on the border with Turkey’s Hatay province. Nobody has any idea what the distinguished politicians engaged in this great bog of enmity will do with them.
All the subjects in question have their own networks and ability to strike within Turkey.
There are analysts who conclude that there is no need to think for too long to work out what could happen when the chaotic balance of power in question gets out of control. Iraq and Syria offer salutary lessons.
Speculation can also take you to the conclusion that such a situation might present Erdogan—Turkey’s leader of two decades who must stand for re-election by next June at the latest, having led the country into economic turmoil that could turn out to be its worst in living memory—with his only path to remaining in power. After all, Syria has been destroyed by its multi-faceted war, but Bashar Assad remains at the helm.
18 TURKEY Country Report September 2022 www.intellinews.com