After they've turned Aleppo into a pile of crushed graham crackers.

This assassination could be a very critical event. That actually could be very instrumental at ushering in a larger chain of very explosive events. The defeat in Syria should not be taken lightly. For Turkey to switch sides and still house occupied foreign military ? The Philippines new threats to withdraw. No, there will be blood ! Bask in the temporary defeat , it is the calm before the storm. Would you not love to be a fly in the room to hear what is being planned.

The meeting of Russia, Iran, and Turkey is certainly encouraging, another defeat for US and Western imperialism. But I don't see what point there would be for the US or its Gulen proxies to kill the Russian ambassador. It is widely suspected by military writers, such as The Saker, but the obvious result is that it would drive Russia and Syria closer against terrorists, which it did. The killer is an obvious fanatic, he had just been fired as a policeman, the prosaic explanation is that it might have been just his idea. Unless the CIA and US power has become so enraged and disoriented by defeats that they are just lashing out. Possible but I think unlikely,

I have to say, it would be more likely. The Saker is a meaningful writer , but can't help but feel he is a bit off the mark on this one. We shall see, he may change his analysis as time progresses. I rather think that if we are going to make a possible premature analysis then we should make judgement based on historical records, as weilunion post has done. While this is being speculative and reactionary, having said that it would appear deep state had the motives as much or more than just a disgruntled security guard that there is still lacking information about his background. Especially one cannot ignore the explosive interactions that are happening with the debacles that have and are being created in the M.E. Erdogan is still allowing US military to use Turkish bases. He is hoping for a Trump policy to show itself to have a US policy change. The US is becoming more reactionary and stepping on its partners feet, Trump will follow suite, and probably more so. We are forced to wait and see in what forms and machinations it will show itself.

Gulen, a CIA asset, tried, convicted and sentenced in Turkey lives a rich lifestyle in the US. Here, he starts the largest charter school chain in the US and works to overthrow the Erdogan government so he can return, wipe the slate clean and take over the presidency for his rulers and hosts, the US Empire. Remember, he is a convicted criminal.

The US is a sanctuary country for convicted criminals. From Latin American murderers and terrorists like Posada, to criminal bankers like the Isaias brothers from Ecuador, they seem to like to mix and rub shoulders with the CIA fomented Florida anti-Castro Cubans.

There are thousand 'political exiles', many of them over thrown by their own people who reside in the US. The former president of Bolivia during the Cocaine Wars and CIA terrorist use of Klaus Barbie, The Nazi Butcher from Leon lives in Maryland.

Coddling and harboring criminals, murderers and Nazis has been part of the American Exceptionalism cycle of events for a century or more.

Yes, the Turkey Russia deal now of course divides the world into even harsher polemic and political camps -- all troublesome for they can lead to war. But at the same time it allows the world to see just what the US is and what NATO is, and how we got here and perhaps where we need to go.

Well put sir, and very real. As that link to Pepe Escobar's analysis supported also. And his final words, " and make no mistake there will be blood." Empire will not stop it just simply cannot, it is not part of its DNA to do so. Another harsh thing must be said, the only thing that can stop this DNA from reproduction is the death of it . Its life force the international working class can make its DNA chain collapse . It is our duty , our only option to struggle against all the odds to do so.

There's nothing like an unsuccessful coup/assassination attempt to cause someone to rethink who their "friends" are. Erdogan had a big wake-up call on July 15th, and realized that his NATO "partners" who were "standing behind him" actually had their guns pointed at his back, not over his shoulder. Conversely his nominal "enemy", Russia, saved his butt.

Since the EU constantly rejects Turkish membership while demanding it cut off trade with Russia, Turkey's largest trading partner, economic reality is starting to sink in. SCO membership means increased trade with the world's fastest growing trading block, while even if Turkey was accepted into the EU, it would only be swimming toward a sinking ship.

Russia is helping Turkey build nuclear power plants and cutting them in as a distribution hub on a very profitable natural gas pipeline to Southern Europe while the US bases nuclear bombers and missiles there, painting a target on Turkey by forcing the Russians to aim ICBM and cruise missiles at them.

Erdogan may be a megalomaniac with dreams of recreating the Ottoman Empire, but he is not stupid. He can see the SCO is a rising economic bloc, while the US/EU/NATO empire is gradually crumbling. Turkey's future lies in being part of China's "One Belt, One Road" new Silk Road trade highway, not in being a Military Base for the US to attack all it's neighbours.

I think you've made a very believable and cogent analysis of how this situation is developing on the fly.

This what seems to be good current status quo, should remember , its not over! US military is still using Turkish bases. They, the US and NAYO are not stupid either. They are still arming Kurdish forces, other terrorism has happened. Not sure what a civil war would do to Turkey, but would not put it past their destructive behavior.

Excellent analysis and when I reblog this article I hope you won't mind if I include your astute response.

Terry, have a read of Pepe Escobar column on counter punch. He says the same thing! crystal clear on who carried out this Russ Amb. assassination, on whose behalf, and to what end. Plus Er-Dog having now come to his senses after the failed NATO coup attempt and the whipping his boys got recently in Aleppo, is starting to stare reality in the face:
http://www.counterpunch.org...