Erdoghan's March to dictatorship in Turkey

Erdoghan's March to dictatorship in Turkey By: DEXTER FILKINS "Under normal circumstances, Erdoğan’s march to authoritarianism might be expected to provoke criticism or even economic sanctions. But since coming to office in 2009, President Obama has treated Erdoğan like an ally and friend. His Administration has continued to do so, even after the crackdown on Zaman and Cumhurieyt. Why? Because the United States desperately needs Turkey, a Muslim-majority country, in its fight against ISIS. Turkey hasn’t even been helpful in this regard—it has been much more focussed on bombing the Kurdish enclave in northeastern Syria, America’s most effective ally in the country—and there is evidence that Obama’s view is changing. In discussions with Jeffrey Goldberg, of the Atlantic, Obama said that while he once imagined Erdoğan as a moderate, he now sees him as an authoritarian and a failure. That’s a start. Obama and Erdoğan are supposed to meet today in Washington. Let’s hope President Obama skips the diplomatic language and goes straight to the point: that any leader who jails journalists—and arms Al Qaeda and bombs the Kurds and jails his opponents—is no friend of the United States."

Date: April 2, 2016, 9:33 am

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