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We do not yet have a clear answer to how Alptekin established his 'consulting' relationship w/ Flynn. Reporting so far is that Alptekin approached Rafiekian, Flynn's partner. Why would Alptekin have thought of Flynn, whose 'profile' was strongly anti-Erdogan ? +
Alptekin is, at the end of the day, a bit player, a go-fer, a bag man. The outreach to Flynn was bold. Who told the Turks that Flynn wd be receptive ? I have wondered for some time whether Flynn was originally suggested to the Turks by the Kremlin.
Some dots that may or may not be connected (fuel for thought):
1. Alptekin's father is closely associated with a far-left Turkish political party, known (since 2015) as the Patriotic Party, but previously as the Workers' Party (Isci Partisi).
1. Alptekin's father is closely associated with a far-left Turkish political party, known (since 2015) as the Patriotic Party, but previously as the Workers' Party (Isci Partisi).
The party, led by Dogu Perincek, has close ties to Russia. Alptekin's first name, Ekim, means 'October' in Turkish: it is said that he was named in honor of the October 1917 Bolshevik revolution.
2. Perincek is close to Aleksandr Dugin, a Russian philosopher and political figure
2. Perincek is close to Aleksandr Dugin, a Russian philosopher and political figure
whose 'Eurasia' movement seeks the restoration of a 'Greater Russia.' He is said by some to have access to Putin. He is a U.S. sanctioned individual, b/c of actions in Ukraine.
3. On 11.24.15, Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet over Syria.
3. On 11.24.15, Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet over Syria.
The shoot down derailed RU-TK negotiations over the Blue Stream gas pipeline project (under the Black Sea). In time, backchannel negotiations got the gas project back on track. On the Turkish side, a key negotiator is reported to have been Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ismail Hakki Pekin.
Pekin had been the head of Turkish military intelligence (the same post held by Flynn at DIA, altho their tenures did not overlap). It's been reported that Pekin's backchannel negotiations over Blue Stream were facilitated by Dugin.
As part of its engagement by Alptekin's Innovo, Flynn Intel undertook to produce a 'documentary' critical of Fetullah Gulen. Never finished, the documentary (filmed in D.C.) featured 'interviews' w/ two Turks, one of whom was Pekin.
Two of the 501(c)(3) entities through which Alptekin pursued Turkish lobbying activities in the U.S. have been shown to have been set up with the advice and direct involvement of Russian individuals.
None of these 'dots' may connect. There are enough of them, however, that it strikes me worth considering whether the Turks found their way to Flynn through Russians who already had reason to believe Flynn might be amenable.
@threadreaderapp Please unroll.
