The Arc Of Turkey's Descent Into Islamic, Third-World Madness

Daniel Pipes has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Arab and Muslim world, so his short histories of issues are always a worthwhile read.

His political analysis however tends to be slipshod, as he is overly fond of his own basic premise that militant Islam can be moderated and, as he demonstrates here, glossies over some really big events. Oh, and he is part of the moderate wing of the NeverTrumpers, although he hides it well.

Erdoğan's Turkish Delight: The Dangerous Reign of Ankara's Corrupt President

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's rule over Turkey began in March 2003 and divides precisely into two eras.

In the first half, which lasted 8 years and 4 months, he was brilliant. He oversaw unprecedented economic growth and regional influence. He tackled long-festering problems, such as the Kurdish issue, while discreetly handling his military overlords. His string of successes culminated in July 2011 with an assertion of control of the military, an accomplishment that had eluded all of his predecessors.

But what Pipes minimizes is a profound change in Turkey, and that is the destruction of the checks and balances that its modern founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk created; a strong, secular military establishment to prevent the worst excesses of Islamism. Erdoğan managed to destroy that balance, and set the table for Turkey's return to Islamic dictatorship.

Regardless, it is an interesting article that describes the path from popularly elected leader to dictator. Turkey is a regional power, and one that is currently our de facto enemy. It is an excellent example of the failure of NATO, and the fecklessness of European leadership.

&topic=world_news"> posted by CBD at 02:30 PM

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