And Obama is chuffed. “Israel analysts see Turkey radicalizing, becoming ‘Iran No. 2,'” from the World Tribune, September 15 (thanks to all who sent this in):
TEL AVIV — Israel’s defense community has assessed that Turkey was moving toward becoming a radical and nuclear Islamic state.
Officials and leading analysts asserted that the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan was rapidly dismantling the secular Turkish state. They said Erdogan could turn Turkey into another Iran, a radical Muslim state with nuclear weapons.
“There could be a deep strategic change,” Amos Gilad, a senior Defense Ministry official, said.
Officials cited Turkey’s referendum that would revise the secular constitution. They said the 26 amendments approved by 58 percent of voters on Sept. 12 would significantly increase the authority of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party while marginalizing Turkey’s military.
Leading officials expressed concern over Erdogan’s growing power in Turkey and his success in intimidating the once-powerful Turkish military. They said Erdogan could use his referendum victory to expand Turkey’s alliance with neighboring Iran and Syria while fomenting another crisis with Israel….
“If there is not a change in personality, then Turkey will become Iran No. 2,” former National Security Council director Uzi Dayan said.