Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 6236 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10 2001/11
2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/11 2002/12
2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AE AF AORC ASEC AR AJ APCS ABLD AMGT AFIN AEMR AU AM ADCO ASIG AG APER AL ASUP AA AFFAIRS ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AMED AS AGMT APECO AO ACOA AX AROC ATFN ASEAN AFGHANISTAN AFU AER ALOW AODE ABUD ATRN AID AC AVERY
BA BO BR BM BL BU BEXP BBSR BMGT BF BG BTIU BC BTIO BY BH BE BIDEN BRUSSELS BK BX BT BB BILAT
CS CVIS CA CASC CI CU CO CH CBW CJAN CM CE CDG CR COUNTER CD CG CMGT CWC CKGR CN CPAS CONS CLINTON CT CV CJUS CY COUNTERTERRORISM CIA CACM CDB CAN COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CACS CF CONDOLEEZZA CARSON CL CIS CODEL CTM CB COM
DR DA DS DOMESTIC DJ DOD DEAX DOE DISENGAGEMENT DEA DK DHS DTRA
ECON EFIN EINV EG ELAB EFIS ETRD EPET ENRG ETTC EAGR EAID EAIR ELTN EWWT EIND ER EC ECPS EUN ES EN EMIN EI ENVR ET ENGR ECIN ENIV EU ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EZ EXTERNAL EINT ELN EUR ENNP EUNCH EFINECONCS EK ECINECONCS EINVECONSENVCSJA ELECTIONS ECUN EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL ECA ENERG ENGY ETRO EFTA ECONCS ECONOMICS ECONEFIN EINVETC EINN ESA ETC ETRDEINVTINTCS ESENV ETRDECONWTOCS
FR FI FJ FTAA FAO FREEDOM FBI FMLN FARC FINR
GG GH GE GV GM GCC GA GR GT GOI GZ GTIP GANGS GTMO GAZA GOV GY
HSTC HA HU HYMPSK HK HO HR HILLARY HURI HUMAN
IN IWC IC IS IR IZ IT ID ICRC IAEA ILC IO INTELSAT ISRAELI ILO IBRD IMF ICAO IACI IMO ICJ ITRA ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI INTERPOL IV ICTY IQ IPR INRB ITPHUM IIP IL IA INR ITPGOV IZPREL IRC INRA INRO IRAJ IEFIN IF
JA JO JOSEPH JM JUS JAMES JP JOHNNIE
KIRF KSCA KPAL KTFN KDEM KFRD KCOR KPKO KGHG KNNP KCRM KISL KBTR KWMN KPAO KS KFLU KSTH KOMC KE KMPI KOMS KSPR KWBG KIPR KTIP KJUS KPRV KFLO KHLS KN KSUM KTIA KGIC KHIV KDRG KICC KWWMN KUNR KLIG KBIO KMCA KSTC KZ KG KOLY KCFE KTBT KTDB KOCI KAWK KCIP KNPP KWAC KU KMDR KAWC KBCT KIDE KWMNCS KSEP KVPR KNEI KACT KRAD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KSAF KV KFSC KCRS KO KX KPRP KR KPWR KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KFIN KGCC KPIN KPLS KIRC KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KGIT KBTS KERG KWMM KRVC KNSD KVIR KNUP KTER KDDG KHSA KMRS KHDP KTLA KPAK KNAR KREL KPAI KTEX KCOM KNNPMNUC KPOA KRFD KHUM KDEV KNUC KCFC KREC
LE LY LU LI LG LH LAB LO LOG LT LTTE
MARR MOPS MASS MX MNUC ML MCAP MTCRE MR MP MO MY MU MIL MC MTRE MA MV MD MAR MRCRE MEPI MPOS MZ MEPP MOPPS MAPP MASC MT MERCOSUR MK MDC MI MAPS MCC MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MUCN MTCR MG
NATO NL NGO NS NO NIPP NI NG NZ NA NU NK NE NPT NSF NP NATIONAL NSG NRR NAR NASA NPG NT
OVIP OAS OREP ODIP OTRA OSCE OECD OIIP OEXC OPCW OPIC OPDC OPRC OSCI OVP OFDP OTR OSAC OIC OFFICIALS OIE
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PINS PK PREF PARM PE PEL PM PBTS PA PARMS PHSA PO POL PLN POLITICS PROP PALESTINIAN PL POV PAO PG PEPR PSI PINT PSOE PU POLITICAL PARTIES PBIO PECON PAK POGOV PINL PKFK PMIL PY PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PRAM PMAR PGOVLO PUNE PORG PHUMPREL PF POLINT PHUS PGOC PNR PGGV PNAT PGOVE PRGOV PRL PROV PTERE PGOF PHUMBA PINF
QA
RU RS RP RW RO RIGHTS RF RICE ROBERT RFE REGION
SY SU SENV SW SP SNAR SOCI SO SR SZ SMIG SCUL SC SA SAN SN SL SEVN SF SG SYR SI STEINBERG SIPRS SH SNARCS SOFA SANC SHUM SK ST
TU TRGY TS TSPL TBIO TH TT TPHY TSPA TI TK TIP TERRORISM TZ TX TW TD TURKEY TP TC TO TNGD TINT TRSY TR TFIN
UNSC UN UK UNGA UNDC UNHCR UZ US UNHRC UG UP UNAUS USTR UNEP UY UNESCO USUN UAE UV UNMIK USEU UNO UNDP UNCHS UNVIE UNCHC UE UNDESCO USAID
VZ VE VT VTPREL VN VM
WHO WA WMO WEU WTRO WZ WI WTO WTRQ WWARD WB WHA WBG
XM XL XK XC XR XW XF XY XG XT XA XZ XS XH XE XD
YI YM YMCS YE
ZI ZP ZR ZU ZF ZB ZO ZANU ZA ZOELLICK ZK ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08ISTANBUL51, UMRANIYE ROUND-UP TARGETS DEEP STATE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08ISTANBUL51.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08ISTANBUL51 | 2008-01-30 07:07 | 2011-03-19 15:03 | CONFIDENTIAL | Consulate Istanbul

`

    VZCZCXRO4779
    OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
    DE RUEHIT #0051/01 0300720
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 300720Z JAN 08 ZDS
    FM AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7825
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ISTANBUL 000051

    SIPDIS

    C O R R E C T E D COPY - CORRECTING PARAGRAPH NUMBERS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2028
    TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU
    SUBJECT: UMRANIYE ROUND-UP TARGETS DEEP STATE

    REF: A. 06 ANKARA 1442
         ¶B. 06 ANKARA 3772

    ISTANBUL 00000051  001.2 OF 003

    Classified By: Consul General Sharon A. Wiener
    for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

    ¶1.  (C) Summary.  The January 22 police round-up of scores of
    people in Istanbul and other cities, related to the discovery
    of a weapons cache in Istanbul's Umraniye district last June,
    may be a battle in the war to fight the "deep state" in
    Turkey.  The "deep state" is a vague, ill-defined network of
    like-minded people (including former military personnel and
    government officials) with ties to Turkey's
    ultra-nationalists that purports to provide an "alternative"
    to state power.  Allegedly, this extra-legal grouping works
    to influence and deliver public support behind actions by
    real state actors, often the military.  Some, such as former
    Prime Minister and President Suleyman Demirel, voice support
    for this power center.  Current PM Erdogan apparently opposes
    it and is looking for ways to subvert if not destroy it.
    There is speculation the contemporary deep state has overlap
    affiliation with popularly termed Operation Gladio, a Cold
    War "stay behind" network organized to resist possible Soviet
    occupation. Successful prosecution of a deep state network
    would strike a blow against nationalist impunity and
    demonstrate a strong commitment to rule of law.  Despite
    apparent support for this investigation at the highest levels
    of the political leadership, prosecution can only be
    successful with the cooperation of Turkey's arch-nationalist
    judiciary.  End summary.

    UMRANIYE RAIDS
    --------------

    ¶2.  (C) In pre-dawn raids on the morning of Tuesday, January
    22, police in Istanbul and at least four other cities took
    suspects into custody under suspicion of belonging to what
    Istanbul prosecutor Zekeriya Oz labeled a terrorist
    organization.  Press report police monitored Ergenekon
    (ultra-nationalist club) members, actions and telephone
    conversations for 8 months as part of an investigation of a
    stockpile of explosives and ammunition found June 12, 2007,
    in Umraniye, a middle class district on the Asian side of
    Istanbul.  Istanbul-based TESEV Foreign Policy Director
    Mensur Akgun believes there is an Ergenekon link to
    clandestine "stay behind" networks (popularly referred to as
    Operation Gladio after the Italian version) set up in NATO
    countries to resist potential Soviet occupation.  Akgun says
    Ergenekon is part of the "Deep State" apparatus in Turkey and
    believes Prime Minister Erdogan forced the military to
    acquiesce to police exposure and prosecution of the group.

    ¶3.  (U) According to police, the Istanbul raids were part of
    an organized counterterrorism effort carried out in Istanbul,
    Adana, Izmir, Duzce, and Malatya.  Thus far, 60 suspects have
    been detained from nationalist groups called Ergenekon,
    Atabeyler, Sauna, and Umraniye.  During initial raids in
    June/July 2007, police discovered a hit list including
    pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) deputies Ahmet
    Turk and Sebahat Tuncel, Diyarbakir mayor Osman Baydemir,
    former MP Leyla Zana, Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk, and Zaman
    daily journalist Fehmi Koru.  DTP politicians on the list
    reportedly refused a 24-hour police guard offered them.  Also
    uncovered in the raid were diagrams and action plans said to
    lay out the foundations for a coup planned for 2009.  Press
    speculation implicates Ergenekon in virtually every killing
    with political significance over the past several years,
    including the Hrant Dink murder, the 2006 Council of State
    (Danistay) shooting which killed one judge, the bombing of
    the Cumhuriyet newspaper building in Istanbul, and the 2006
    murder of an Italian priest, among others.  Prior to the
    raids on January 22, 15 people had been arrested in
    connection with the Umraniye weapons cache.  They were
    charged with establishing and running an armed terrorist
    organization, conspiring to encourage military members to
    disobey orders, acquiring information on state security, and
    being in possession of explosives.

    A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A COMPLICATED SUBJECT
    --------------------------------------------

    ¶4.  (C) Referring to the antecedents of Ergenekon, Mensur
    Akgun says nationalist elements, traceable to Ottoman days,
    were responsible for incidents including the Istanbul riots
    of September 6-7, 1955, targeting the Greek minority.
    Then-PM Bulent Ecevit complained in 1974 of a "counter
    guerrilla" force operating outside the Turkish military chain
    of command.  Akgun also claimed former PM Tansu Ciller and
    former President Suleyman Demirel requested and received NSC

    ISTANBUL 00000051  002.2 OF 003

    approval for a "deep state" mechanism in the 1990s.  Forces
    established in the 1950s as sleeper agents, once directed by
    the intelligence community, have come to feel immune from
    prosecution and are no longer controllable, Akgun claimed.
    Ergenekon has overlap with this group.  Akgun also professed
    that deep state elements have taken part in efforts to
    eliminate the PKK, citing the Semdinli incident.  The
    November 9, 2005, bombing of a bookstore in Semdinli killed
    one and injured several in Turkey's southeastern province of
    Hakkari. Two suspects were found to
    be members of the security forces.  Efforts by Prosecutor
    Ferhat Sarikaya to pinpoint ultimate responsibility for the
    attack resulted in his being fired by the High Council of
    Judges and Prosecutors (Ref A).

    ¶5.  (C) Akgun posits arrests on January 22 were facilitated
    by followers of Fethullah Gulen (once a deep state target)
    who have established themselves in the regular police and
    police intelligence cadres.  Akgun cited the Prime Minister's
    comment, "the state is working," as evidence he had forced
    agreement with Turkey's military to make the Umraniye
    investigations public. Those found guilty would be
    prosecuted, said Akun.  Mindful of truncated investigations
    into Sedinli, Susurluk (Ref B) and other scandals, Akgun
    made an appeal for the USG to reveal any informaton it has
    that would corroborate evidence of wrongdoing by the
    suspects.

    ¶6.  (C) The judiciary, Akgun said, could prove a stumbling
    block to justice.  He lamented that though not necessarily
    corrupt, Turkey's judiciary had large numbers of "illiberal"
    judges, more focused on protecting the state from the
    individual than in promoting individual rights, and who
    firmly believe any means should be used to protect the state.
    Insofar as the deep state's purported intentions are to
    protect the state (as that group defines it), they may be
    able to find common cause with some in the legal system who
    could shield them from the full brunt of prosecution.  Akgun
    expects the accused would mount a strong defense but added
    that there are now many factors at work to thwart the
    extra-legal group.  Akgun -- and many respected media
    commentators -- said success would have far-reaching,
    positive implications for the rule of law and democracy in
    Turkey.

    A ROGUE'S GALLERY FRAMES THE PLOT
    ---------------------------------

    ¶7.  (U)  Central to the cast of characters detained in the
    Umraniye raids is retired Major General Veli Kuck, reputed
    to be a leader in the Ergenekon organzation.  Following the
    1996 Susurluk incident, the Office of the Chief of the
    General Staff reportedly blocked charges from being filed
    against Kucuk (then active duty) and he refused to give a
    deposition to the parliamentary investigation.  Kucuk sued
    Erdal Dogan (attorney for the Dink family) after Dogan told
    prosecutors that Kucuk could be involved in Dink,s murder.
    Kucuk attended hearings for Dink,s Article 301 case, filed
    by ultra-nationalist lawyer Kemal Kerencsiz who was also
    detained on January 22.  Kerencsiz filed 301 cases against
    Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak as well.

    ¶8.  (U) Also among the detained is Oktay Yildirim, a retired
    noncommissioned officer reputed to have made threatening
    phone calls to Prosecutor Zekeriya Oz.  Two people arrested
    during the June 2007 raid on the house in Umraniye indicated
    Yildirim provided the weapons.  Yildirim claims he found the
    weapons at a dump behind a military barracks in Hasdal on
    Istanbul's European side.

    DEMIREL ON THE DEEP STATE
    -------------------------

    ¶9.  (U) Interviewed on CNN-Turk on April 17, 2005, former
    President Demirel said, "The deep state is the state itself.
    It is the military.  The military that established the state
    always fears the collapse of the state.  The people sometimes
    misuse the rights provided....  The deep state is not active
    as long as the state is not brought to the verge of collapse.
    They are not a separate state, but when they intervene in
    the administration of the state, they become the deep state."

    ¶10.  (C) Comment.  The deep state is shady, vague and
    ill-defined.  Events like the 1955 Istanbul riots, Susurluk
    and Semdinli, the Dink 301 trial and subsequent
    assassinations have long haunted public life.  Weak rule of
    law and the impunity with which privileged operators have
    long been able to subvert Turkey's legal system have created
    an environment in which rumors of the deep state's existence

    ISTANBUL 00000051  003.2 OF 003

    have been enough to give the concept a life of its own.  Fear
    of the deep state's omnipotence combined with an unshakable
    belief that it exists, imparts much of its power.  If Akgun's
    take is correct, PM Erdogan has the evidence he needs to
    expose and close down or seriously damage a widely rumored
    "deep state" apparatus that works outside the rule of law,
    often in the service of ultra-nationalist causes.  However,
    prosecution will only be successful with the cooperation of
    Turkey's deeply conservative judiciary.  That will be the
    test; passing it will have positive implications for
    strengthening and extending democracy and rule of law in
    Turkey.  End comment.
    WIENER

`