DALOGLU: Albright had it right

While I cannot offer any scandalous memo or leak to prove it, the odd-couple bond between Christian EU leaders and the Islamic AKP is perfectly explainable (esp. within the context of the Iranian Revolution only three decades ago), when one considers the "common enemy": Kemalists and the military. It appears the US has inherited another misguided European policy, as she did when the US went into Vietnam as the French were leaving!... If European ambitions had not been checked by Ataturk in WW1 and by the American in WW2, Turkey would likely be just another wasteland -- exploited, divided, "civilized", etc. in the example of the Middle East -- a human and moral tragedy to say the least. If there is a secular and democratic Turkey (elections do work, and the country is reasonably transparent and open), it is DESPITE the BEST attempts of European countries, not with their help or blessing. It is only a miracle that Ataturk did not exploit his immaculate credentials FIGHTING the Europeans to set Turkey on an anti-European/-Western/-US course, which he could have easily done. Iran's Humeyni did, Stalin did, the Taliban did/does, Osama does, etc. I guess the moral of this story is: Be careful watch you ask for, you may just get it! If religion takes over (i.e. Kemalist regime dies), Europe's and US' (and Turks') problems will then really begin. Don't be fooled. The AKP cannot save themselves, let alone anyone else. They are busy putting on a show of democracy and economic growth using borrowed time and borrowed money, which is the ONLY SECULAR things they are able to do. At a time when Iran is likely pursuing nuclear arms, helping create another Iran, much "closer" to Europe, would be the real fatal mistake. Imagine if Iran bordered the EU and millions of Iranians lived in the heart of EU. The "shield" the US is setting up would not be so effective, without a acquiescent buffer like Turkey. But, then again, Europe is where the World almost came to an end - twice! Habits are hard to break. Maybe we are due for another round?!