Former CIA chairman Fuller emerges to back Gulen

Graham Fuller, a former CIA chairman has refuted claims that Fethullah Gulen was the mastermind of the coup. Gulen fled Turkey to the US in 1999 after officials charged him with trying to overthrow the state

Former CIA chairman Fuller emerges to back Gulen

World Bulletin / News Desk

Former CIA vice chairman,  once stationed in Istanbul and has past affiliations with the Rand Corporation and  the National Security Council, Graham Fuller, has suggested that the Gulenist movement cannot be behind the coup in Turkey.

Writing in the Huffington Post, Fuller says, "I believe it is unlikely that Gulen was the mastermind behind the dramatic failed coup attempt against Erdogan last week. Of course, in the absence of evidence, so far no one can speak with certainty. Gulen’s social movement probably has well over a million followers or sympathizers who are not under centralized control. With the arrests of tens of thousands this week and the use of torture already suspected, there is no telling what kind of “confessions” will be generated. Erdogan demands that the U.S. extradite Gulen (he lives in Pennsylvania) to Turkey, but Washington does not usually extradite political figures unless the evidence is highly persuasive in a U.S. court"

Claiming that Gulen in pro-democracy and ignoring their recruitment method, Fuller continued, saying that "Erdogan’s charge that Hizmet is a “terrorist organization” is absurd to anyone with the least knowledge of the movement, given its strong emphasis on peace and dialogue".

Gulen Visa

Fuller aided Gulen in obtaining his visa and his subsequent green card to the US by writing a letter to the FBI claiming that he posed no security threat and also provided references from 18 separate US officials.

Fethullah Gulen fled Turkey in 1998 and settled in Pennysylvania where the movement is headquartered. According to Intelligence Online, he obtained a residence permit only in 2008 with the help of Fuller and George Fidas, whom it described as head of the agency’s outreach to universities.

source: Huffington Post

 

Güncelleme Tarihi: 24 Temmuz 2016, 07:46
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