...in Istanbul. Ok, I don't claim to know a heck of a whole lot about Turkey, and this coup is still confusing. However, one of the stunning images I saw, was members of the Turkish military, hands up, surrendering to civilians. Civilians, in a number of cases promptly started abusing them.
Here's my issue. I figure the higher ups mobilized the military, without them really knowing why they were being mobilized; so they may not have been committed to ideologically to the coup. My question, is if that's true, why surrender, turn over their weapons and equipment, and place themselves in the hands of a crowd who hasn't a clue what's going on, other than it appears the military is supporting the coup. Why not just say to the crowd "hey guys, we didn't know what was going on, we'll keep our guns and vehicles, and withdraw."
I have a hard time envisioning American soldiers doing the same. I can see them telling a crowd, "nah, we're good, and we're keeping our guns." If the crowd tried to treat members of the US Military the way the people are treating the Turkish military, I see that going bad very quickly... but then again I don't think US citizens would handle themselves like the Turks.
Here's my issue. I figure the higher ups mobilized the military, without them really knowing why they were being mobilized; so they may not have been committed to ideologically to the coup. My question, is if that's true, why surrender, turn over their weapons and equipment, and place themselves in the hands of a crowd who hasn't a clue what's going on, other than it appears the military is supporting the coup. Why not just say to the crowd "hey guys, we didn't know what was going on, we'll keep our guns and vehicles, and withdraw."
I have a hard time envisioning American soldiers doing the same. I can see them telling a crowd, "nah, we're good, and we're keeping our guns." If the crowd tried to treat members of the US Military the way the people are treating the Turkish military, I see that going bad very quickly... but then again I don't think US citizens would handle themselves like the Turks.