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Is The U.S. Behind Fethullah Gulen?

by Dani Rodrik

Whenever I talk with another Turk about the Gulen movement, a question invariably props up: is the CIA behind Gulen? In fact for most Turks this is a rather rhetorical question, with an incontrovertible answer. The belief that Gulen and his activities are orchestrated by the U.S. is as strongly held as it is widespread among Turks of all political coloration – secular or Islamist.
This is my attempt at providing a reasoned answer to the question. My conclusion in brief: I don’t think Gulen is a tool of the U.S. or has received support from the U.S. for its clandestine operations. But it is possible that some elements within the U.S. national security apparatus think Gulen furthers their agenda, is worth protecting on U.S. soil, and have so far prevailed on other voices in the establishment with different views. Regardless, the U.S. needs to seriously reconsider its attitude towards Gulen and his movement.

Direct support?

Those who believe the U.S. is behind Gulen typically make two arguments. First, they point to how Gulen got his green card in the first place. The long list of individuals who wrote letters of recommendations on Gulen’s behalf includes two long-time CIA employees (George Fidas and Graham Fuller) and a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey (Morton Abramowitz). These individuals write in their individual capacities and their advocacy was based both on Gulen’s persecution by the then-secularist Turkish judiciary and on Gulen’s apparent promotion of a moderate brand of Islam.
On the latter question, at least, it is fair to assume that these recommenders had only limited knowledge of Gulen’s full corpus, which includes some fairly incendiary stuff against Jews, Christians, the United States, and Western Europe. (Some years ago I showed one of the letter writers a particularly anti-semitic sermons and asked him if he was aware of it; he said he had no idea.)
However, the more important point about his green card -– and one that is overlooked in Turkey — is that the U.S. administration was in fact opposed to giving Gulen a green card. It rejected Gulen’s application, and then strenuously objected when Gulen’s lawyers appealed. Lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security were scathing about Gulen’s qualifications and argued there was no evidence he was an individual of exceptional ability in the field of education: “far from being an academic, plaintiff seeks to cloak himself with academic status by commissioning academics to write about him and paying for conferences at which his work is studied.”
Gulen owes his residency not to the U.S. executive branch (and whichever intelligence agency may be hiding behind it), but to a federal judge with scant interest in foreign policy or intelligence matters who somehow nonetheless ruled in his favor. The judge’s argument was that the Administration had construed the relevant field of “education” too narrowly, and should have considered Gulen’s contributions to other areas such as “theology, political science, and Islamic studies.”
The second argument is that Gulen and his followers would not have been so successful in spreading their empire and influence without active U.S. support. I think this severely underestimates the movement’s own capabilities. Gulen has long stressed education, organization, and secrecy. His movement has invested in raising a “golden generation” of smart, well-trained individuals. Lack of resources has never been a constraint, thanks to the contributions of an army of devout businessmen. As the AKP found out to its own chagrin, its most capable and competent public servants turned out to be serving a different master in Pennsylvania. And in any case, this argument exaggerates U.S.’ own capabilities in my view: given the CIA’s history of blunders, there is in fact much that it could learn from the Gulen movement on cloak-and-dagger operations.
The critical question here is whether there is anything the movement has done that it could not have done without active U.S. backing. Did it really need the help of some U.S. intelligence agency to expand its charter-school network, to stage the Sledgehammer trial, or to infiltrate and organize within the Turkish military? I don’t think so.

Tacit support?

The U.S. government may not have had a direct hand in Gulen’s activities, but it is more difficult to dismiss the argument that it provided tacit support – or that some parts of the U.S. administration prevailed on other parts who were less keen on Gulen.
Judging by Wikileaks cables, U.S. diplomats in Turkey were exceptionally knowledgeable about Gulenist activities. These cables are in fact a goldmine of information on the Gulen movement. Form these we learn, among others, about the elaborate ruses used by Gulenist sympathizers to infiltrate the Turkish army, Gulen’s request for support from the Jewish Rabbinate’s during his green card application, and the attempt by sympathizers within the Turkish national police to get a “clean bill of health” for Gulen from the U.S. consulate in Istanbul. We also learn that even in the heyday of their alliance, Gulenists presciently regarded Erdogan as a liability.
Perhaps of more direct interest to the U.S., foreign service officers have long been aware that many Turks have been obtaining visas under false pretenses, with the ultimate aim of ending up as teachers in Gulen’s charter schools. Yet apparently nothing was ever done to stop this flow, nor to hold the movement to account. A ridiculous number of H-1B visas — which require demonstration that no qualified U.S. workers are available — have been issued to Turkish teachers in these schools. One naturally wonders why the U.S. administration never clamped down on the Gulen movement for apparent visa fraud.
The same question arises with respect to the widespread pattern of financial improprieties that has been uncovered in Gulen’s charter schools. A whistleblower has provided evidence that Turkish teachers are required to kick back a portion of their salary to the movement. The FBI has seized documents revealing preferential awarding of contracts to Turkish-connected businesses. Such improprieties are apparently still under investigation. But the slow pace at which the government has moved does make one suspect that there is no overwhelming desire to bring Gulen to justice.
Gulen typically defends himself against such charges by saying that the schools are run by sympathizers and are not directly under his control. Yet the fact is that he took direct credit for the schools in his green card application, saying he had overseen their establishment.
Then there is the Sledgehammer case, which has the Gulen movement’s fingerprints all over it. This and the closely related Ergenekon trials did untold damage to the military of U.S.’ Nato ally. The jailing of hundreds of officers, including a former chief of staff, sowed a climate of fear and suspicion within the army and sapped military morale. Perhaps the U.S. was bamboozled, like many others, early on about these trials. But by now it should know that these sham trials were launched and stage-managed by Gulenists. American officials have been quick to complain in public about the damage the post-coup purge has done to Turkish military capabilities. Yet there was not a peep from them during the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer witch hunts; and nor has the U.S. administration expressed any discontent about the Gulen movement’s role in them since.

The failed coup

The mystery only deepens after the botched coup. The U.S. has demanded credible evidence from Turkey on Gulen’s involvement, which is as it should be. But beyond that, it appears from the outside as if administration officials have been interested mostly in throwing cold water on the Turkish government’s claim that Gulen was behind the coup – a claim that is largely justified.
The most egregious example is that of James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence. Asked whether Turkish allegations that Gulen planned the attempted coup passed the “smell test” of credibility, Clapper answered: “No. Not to me.” Clapper said Secretary of State Kerry “was right on the ball” to press the Turks to back up their extradition request with evidence of Gulen’s involvement, adding: “We haven’t seen it yet. We certainly haven’t seen it in intel.”
Now coming from the head of American intelligence, this is no less than a stunning statement. As the Wikileaks cables I referred to above make clear, the State Department, at least, has been well aware of Gulenist infiltration of the Turkish military for quite some time. The Gulenists’s role in Sledgehammer, which led to the discharge of many of the most Kemalist/secularist officers in the military is equally clear. Beyond Sledgehammer, the Gulenists’ wide range of clandestine operations against opponents in Turkey must be well-known to American intelligence. So when the most senior intelligence officer in the U.S. instinctively brushes off Gulen’s possible involvement, it looks awfully like he is either incompetent or has something to hide.
Since Clapper’s statement was made, the head of the Turkish military, who was held hostage by the putschists during the coup attempt, has said that one of his captors offered to put him in touch with Gulen directly. This, on its own, is prima facie evidence of Gulen’s involvement, and likely passes the “probable cause” test that is required for extradition. Incredibly, administration officials are still quoted as saying “there is no credible evidence of Mr. Gulen’s personal involvement.” In other words, these officials must think that the army chief of their NATO ally is lying.
(I will not get into former CIA official Graham Fuller’s silly piece exonerating the Gulen movement, which is at best woefully uninformed, at worst willfully misleading. Fuller has been retired for some time, and I doubt he is playing any role in administration policy.)

So what the hell is going on here?

In light of the confusing signals that come out of the U.S., and the apparent desire of many people in or close to the administration to defend Gulen, it’s not difficult to empathize with those in Turkey who believe the U.S. must be behind Gulen (and, yes, even the coup attempt). I think it is too farfetched to think that the U.S. knew of beforehand or supported the coup. There were far too many risks and too few benefits for the U.S. to be involved. And contrary to what many people in Turkey believe, U.S. intelligence is far from omniscient – so yes, the coup likely did happen without U.S. knowledge.
But it is not farfetched to think that there are some groups in the administration – perhaps in the intelligence branches – who have been protecting Gulen because they think he is useful to U.S. foreign policy interests. This could be because Gulen’s brand/mask of moderate Islam is a rare thing in that part of the world. It could be because taking Gulen down would only benefit groups in Turkey they consider more inimical to U.S. interests – Erdogan’s AKP and the arch-secularists. It is even possible that the movement has occasionally performed services for U.S. intel operations. (Some of Gulen’s schools in Central Asia were used to “shelter” American spies according to a former Turkish intelligence chief.) That kind of thing would not be beneath either the CIA or the Gulen movement.
Perhaps these groups have so far have had the better of the argument and have held the upper hand in the administration against those in State or elsewhere who know full well what the Gulen movement is up to and would rather see him go.  In the aftermath of the coup, perhaps this balance will change in favor of the latter. Perhaps not.  Whether it does or not, I think the Gulen issue will ultimately explode in somebody’s face in the U.S.  The only questions are whose, and when.
I would be the first to admit that this is just a hypothesis.  But if there is a better story that explains the U.S. reaction I’d love to hear it.

Extradition?

It is very unlikely that Gulen would receive a fair trial in Turkey.  So the U.S. has a legitimate ground for not extraditing him. But the U.S. foreign policy establishment would be making a very big mistake if they simply dismissed the calls from Turkey about Gulen’s complicity. It is easy for the U.S. to hide behind Erdogan’s clampdown and the ill-treatment of the putschists.  But the U.S. has considerable explaining to do too.


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Filed under: Essays, latest, Turkey
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elenits
elenits
Aug 11, 2016 7:50 AM
Arrby
Arrby
Aug 10, 2016 10:59 PM

There’s some suspicion that the fish would like the water, but after careful consideration, I don’t think it’s true.

Boo Radley
Boo Radley
Aug 10, 2016 5:23 PM

The author of this post should definitely research what Sibel Edmonds has to say, not just about the coup but what she has to say about Graham Fuller, Gladio and Turkey’s leading role in Gladio in the post soviet era.
But then a short glance at Mr Rodik’s cv, shows Ford Foundation & Harvard connections, prestigious no doubt, and yet revealing of possible Establishment and CIA sympathies.

Richard Le Sarcophage
Richard Le Sarcophage
Aug 11, 2016 12:25 AM
Reply to  Boo Radley

The arrogance of dismissing Turkish opinion was typical of a Western disinformer. The CIA’s central role in the coup has been well established already, so this amounts to nothing but a crock of propaganda ordure.

William Wanklyn
William Wanklyn
Aug 31, 2016 1:38 AM
Reply to  Boo Radley

Mr Rodik seems intent on exonerating the CIA and Pentagon while passing more heat on to Gulen. Mr Rodik is not to be trusted. Perhaps they will give up Gulen? But they are on the run. Expose the arch enemy warmongers.

billycanmakeyouthimk
billycanmakeyouthimk
Aug 10, 2016 3:58 PM

reload TURKEY ACCUSES THE UNITED STATES OF FOUL PLAY; US MILITARY OFFCERS DETAINED!

TURQUIE! LE COUP COMME SI VOUS Y ETIEZ
https://issuu.com/budbutley/docs/le_coup_comme_si_vous_y_etiez
off-Guardian as warped as the Gruniad itself

John
John
Aug 10, 2016 12:05 PM
William Wanklyn
William Wanklyn
Aug 31, 2016 1:44 AM
Reply to  John

Dear John,
Sorry to tell you that I won’t be going out with you anymore, you lying, warmongering bastard.

tutisicecream
tutisicecream
Aug 10, 2016 4:34 AM

I think the answer to the question: “Was the US complicit in the attempted coup to overthrow Erdogan?”, lays in their rather lack lustre response to supporting him after the event.
Just observing the events indicate that Turkey as a long standing NATO member, strategical placed next to Syria/ Russia the US is having to play mum at the moment as the expected narrative did not quite play out. But be sure they will have to act soon as it has gone in the wrong direction by accelerating Erdogan’s rapprochement with Russia.
Watch out for more war on the Eastern front in Ukraine in the coming month.

yep
yep
Aug 10, 2016 3:41 PM
Reply to  tutisicecream

clinton and gulen worked together on this coup over a year ago, it all on the internet now, there is her emails stated this and more, they didn’t trust erdorgen, so they and a bunch of neo cons decided to create a coup

Jen
Jen
Aug 10, 2016 3:53 AM

There is now news that Wikileaks has a released an email showing a connection between Hillary Clinton and the Gulen movement.
From GlobalResearch.ca
http://www.globalresearch.ca/turkey-failed-coup-ties-emerge-between-hilary-clinton-and-mysterious-islamic-cleric-fethullah-gulen/5536349
“… In addition to muddying that complex geopolitical dynamic, a 2009 email recently released by Judicial Watch provides yet another example of access being provided to a Clinton campaign and Clinton Foundation donor.
In the April 1, 2009 message, a Gulen follower named Gokhan Ozkok asked Clinton deputy chief of staff Huma Abedin for help in connecting one of his allies to President Obama.
Ozkok is founding board member of the Turkish Cultural Center and part of a network of businesses and non-profits affiliated with the Gulen movement, also known as Hizmet.
Ozkok served as national finance co-chair of the pro-Clinton Ready PAC. He gave $10,000 to the committee in 2014 and $2,700 to Clinton’s campaign last year. He is also listed on the Turkish Cultural Center’s website as a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, one of the non-profit arms of the Clinton Foundation. He’s given between $25,000 and $50,000 to the Clinton charity.
Another link between Gulenists and the Clinton orbit was revealed in a lobbying registration disclosure filed last month with the Senate. It shows that a Gulen-aligned group called the Alliance for Shared Values hired the Clinton-connected Podesta Group to lobby Congress on its behalf. The group seeks to lobby for the “promotion of peace, tolerance and interfaith dialogue.”
The group’s executive director is Alp Aslandogan, a former professor at universities in Texas. He has also donated to Clinton’s political endeavors, campaign finance records show.
The Podesta Group is a natural choice for those seeking influence with Clinton. The firm was co-founded by John Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, and his brother Tony, a major Clinton campaign bundler …
… Last year The Daily Caller reported that numerous Gulen followers have donated to Clinton’s various political campaigns and to her family charity. One Gulen movement leader, Recep Ozkan, donated between $500,000 and $1 million to the Clinton Foundation.
As senator from New York, Clinton gave a keynote address at the Turkish Cultural Center’s annual banquet.
The email to Abedin, which is the first piece of communication showing that a Gulen follower had direct access to Clinton’s staff, sought a favor.
“Please tell Madam Secretary that it would be great if President Obama can include a 15 minutes [sic] meeting with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary-General of the Organization of of [sic] the Islamic Conference (OIC), in his trip to Turkey,” wrote Ozkok…”

One should add the US State Department to the CIA as a possible suspect in assisting the Gulen movement to gain a foothold in the US and in encouraging the recent botched coup, given that Clinton is a former State Secretary who has promoted people like Victoria Nuland to influential positions in that agency.

MHB Administrator
MHB Administrator
Aug 10, 2016 3:25 AM

Reblogged this on Scoop Feed.

John
John
Aug 10, 2016 2:51 AM

Is this why Erdogan is in Moscow?
Partly to teach the US some kind of lesson?

William Wanklyn
William Wanklyn
Aug 10, 2016 3:15 AM
Reply to  John

I think he is looking for support. His main ally has turned against him. Big changes in the wind, methinks.

reinertorheit
reinertorheit
Aug 10, 2016 7:22 AM
Reply to  John

It certainly beats me why Russia needs this criminal piece of flotsam. Russia should have arrested him on arrival at Moscow airport.
Sad times when Moscow has to befriend scum like Erdogan, merely to spite Uncle Sam. Erdogan should have been strung up by his own people, as he deserved.

ThomasT
ThomasT
Aug 10, 2016 2:49 AM

Sounds like the author’s upset over the failure of his nato coup and now tries to exonerate the US… Turkey who believe the U.S. must be behind Gulen (and, yes, even the coup attempt). I think it is too farfetched to think that the U.S. knew of beforehand or supported the coup.
Does the author think Off-G readers only watch Fox or BBC?
https://www.rt.com/news/353126-campbell-nato-coup-turkey/

William Wanklyn
William Wanklyn
Aug 10, 2016 2:45 AM

But then, there is the smoking gun

MrTuvok
MrTuvok
Aug 10, 2016 12:37 PM

I support this post. If this isn’t a smoking gun, why would “a senior military source” throw so much smoke about Erdogan’s whereabouts in the middle of the coup if they were so disinterested? On the contrary, weren’t the US supposed to be supportive of their “important NATO ally” when he faced a crisis? Should not “a senior military source” send out a totally different message at such a juncture?
Several good points in your article, but I don’t buy your conclusion. I think the Boiling Frog is on the ball.