The purge in Turkey continues: Turkey’s authorities have issued detention warrants for 42 journalists, local media say, as part of an inquiry into the failed coup on 15 July. Prominent commentator Nazli Ilicak is said to be on the list. … Continue reading →
In one of my first posts on the coup attempt in Turkey, I mentioned that Daniel Pipes had written a 2015 article asserting that Erdogan’s 2014 electoral victory was bogus. Many people in the west who have championed Erdogan against … Continue reading →
Now they’ve come for the teachers. It’s purge time. Yes, that coup certainly was fortuitous for (or staged by) our Turkish democracy champ, Erdogan: Turkey’s post-coup crackdown took a more sinister turn on Tuesday after tens of thousands of teachers … Continue reading →
Here’s an Erdogan quote on democracy, made in the 1990s when Erdogan was the mayor of Istanbul: “Democracy is like a train: when you reach your destination, you get off.” Well, can’t say he didn’t warn us. And Turkey may … Continue reading →
What a sad sad day. As commenter “Yancey Ward” writes: I think it possible, even likely, that Erdogan staged the coup himself, or knew it was coming in advance and allowed the plotter so openly hang themselves. Literally, Erdogan couldn’t … Continue reading →
[NOTE: This is a slightly-edited version of a previous post.] The Fourth isn’t just about barbecue, although I defer to no one in my regard for barbecue. It’s about liberty. As the years go by, I appreciate that fact more … Continue reading →
Other European nations (can we still use that word?) clamor for their own referendums: Now eight more countries want to hold referendums to exit the EU ”“ France, Holland, Italy, Austria, Finland, Hungary, Portugal, and Slovakia all could leave. The … Continue reading →
Thursday’s Brexit vote was big. But it is potentially even bigger, depending on what follows. Maybe the consequences will be disastrous, as so many “remain” advocates predict. But maybe—if the movement spreads to people in other European countries, who will … Continue reading →
Omar Mateen was adorned with red flags, absolutely festooned with them. We already know that law enforcement was warned about Mateen, investigated him, and decided there was nothing they could do because he had not acted on his beliefs. But … Continue reading →
…are of course completely incompatible. That would seem to be quite obvious, wouldn’t it? And yet so many people cannot see it. Or perhaps they see it, and make their choice between the two. Not to mention the fact that … Continue reading →
It’s a race against time for the companies: Start-ups are particularly wary, Andreessen said, of legislation proposed recently by Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would compel tech companies to build technical methods to share customers’ encrypted … Continue reading →
[NOTE: This is a slightly edited repeat of a previous post.] This evening is the beginning of the Jewish holiday Passover. In recent years whenever I’ve attended a Seder, I’ve been impressed by the fact that Passover is a religious … Continue reading →