[George W. Bush]

The military, which along with the judiciary and universities make up the core of the secular elite, has issued a public reminder it is the ultimate defender of the secular state. The army has removed four civilian governments in 50 years in a nation which now hopes for European Union membership.

This is the most hopeful and enduring record of Islamic democracy.

Not encouraging.

[longtermmemmory]

The question is whether Turkey is willing to abide by the rules of EU membership in order to join the EU.

Turkey must compy to the rules of membership, not the EU allowing selective exceptions to have membership at any cost.