The events that lead to the Ottomans entering the war was better looked at as The Holding of the Battleships that had been paid for and the arrival of Goeben and Emden being what tipped the Balance tip the Balance on the Ottomans getting involved. It was a war with its old enemy Russia
They had Fought Russia in 1878 and lost influence over there European provinces and ever since then Russian had been the support every other war the Ottomans had been involved in since,
The Ottomans had been involved in the Italo-Ottoman war in Libya and the first and second Balkans wars all in the last 3 years and was exhausted.
The Russ
Ottoman Empire: Ottoman military casualties listed here are from data in the Ottoman Archives which total 771,844 war dead including 243,598 killed in action, 61,487 missing action and 466,759 deaths due to disease. The number of wounded was 763,753 and POWs 145,104 Other estimates of Ottoman military casualties are as follows: By UK War Office in 1922: Killed 50,000, died wounds 35,000, died of disease 240,000, By US War Dept in 1924: 325,000 killed and died
Ottomans Total conscripted: 2,850,000 max strength: 8,000,000
KIA:771,844 WIA:763,753 POW (combined):145,104 AWOL:500,000
No Armenian issue and a very supportive Kurdish population at this time, And the outside powers occupied. The Arab issue can be dealt with, Would there be a Arab revolution. Possible , But one thing for sure the House of Saud is going to get it’s head handed to it on a plate, and there is a bunch of much more level headed options.
Persian Campaign was fought in northern Persian Azerbaijan and western Persia (the provinces of East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan and Ardabil, including the cities of Tabriz, Urmia, Ardabil, Maragheh, Marand, Mahabad and Khoy)
The Ottomans Held down about 800,000 Russian and about a similar Number of British empire Indian Divisions 800,000 Indian troops Compared to the 150,000 that served on the Western Front. Not even taking into account the British and Anzac forces.
For a highlight of a mostly forgotten campaign Just one of the areas the Russian’s and Ottomans fought
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus_Campaign
The wars fought by the Ottomans between 1908 and 1918 Gutted them if you take away WW1 they are in a totally different position. And after a WW1 the players meddling in there affairs are in no state to do so
The big winner of those still fighting are the Russians with a Southern Boarder still needing watching but not using Ordinance and some of the best most experienced Troops. Austro Hungry is going to feel some Pain early
One Question is I would think the Ottomans would close the Straights and with Ottomans not fighting,The Bulgarians had just fought 2 wars with the Ottomans and would be weary about going to War if they are not Busy. if that Happens reduce the number of Central powers Troops by a few Hundred Thousand.