Monthly Archives: March 2014

The Youtube Ban and Electoral Politics in Turkey’s Provinces (Podcast)

Posted on March 28, 2014 by aaronstein1

Journalist Noah Blaser and I discuss the youtube ban, the false flag tape, the AKP’s strength in the Black Sea, potential political threats to the AKP, the political consequences of redistricting, and the prospect of increased political empowerment of the Kurdish … Continue reading →

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Turkey Wonk Podcast: Turkey’s Local Elections

Posted on March 27, 2014 by aaronstein1

Journalist Alex Christie Miller and I discuss the upcoming local elections, the AKP’s political machine, and how the reaction to the twitter ban may in fact help Erdogan at the polls.  

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Explaining Erdogan’s Decision-Making

Posted on March 25, 2014 by aaronstein1

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a brilliant politician. The Prime Minister, through the use of modern campaign techniques that are unrivaled in Turkey, is able to keep his thumb on the pulse of the Turkish Republic and – more … Continue reading →

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MIT, Gulen, and the Chinese Missile Defense Deal: Questions about Cyber Security

Posted on March 11, 2014 by aaronstein1

Burak Bekdil is reporting that some Turkish companies have grown wary about Ankara’s interest in China’s HQ-9 missile defense system. Turkey selected China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC) for the T-LORAMIDs tender in September 2013. CPMIEC is under US sanctions, … Continue reading →

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Heron Drone Hangars: Batman Airbase

Posted on March 6, 2014 by aaronstein1

Turkey’s military is incredibly opaque. However, it appears as if open source satellite imagery is allowing us analysts to peel back the shroud of secrecy about Turkey’s use of Israeli made Heron drones. News reports indicate the Turkey conducted the … Continue reading →

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A Heron Drone at Batman Airbase: More from Open Source Imagery

Posted on March 5, 2014 by aaronstein1

I thought I would also post a picture of a Heron drone stationed at Batman airbase in Turkey. 

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Predator Drones at Incirlik: Using Open Source to Find Them

Posted on March 5, 2014 by aaronstein1

Turkey is – once again – considering whether or not to submit a request for American drones. In the past, Ankara coveted armed reaper drones. Now, Turkey appears to be interested in the unarmed export variant of the predator. The … Continue reading →

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Russia, Turkey, and the West: Diplomatic Correspondence from 1944-1951

Posted on March 1, 2014 by aaronstein1

I dont know much about Ukraine. However, given the stakes involved, I thought it useful to post some archival documents detailing Turkey’s concerns about Russian expansion in the waning days of World War II and the start of the Cold … Continue reading →

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