[Jim Noble]

if Iran collapses in on itself and the more moderate, secular governing elements in Turkey wrest control from Erdogan and his crew

Fantasy.

Learn the lesson of Afghanistan. The Turks and the Persians are being governed according to their nature. Liberal democracy is anathema to both (and after the damage it's caused our people, should be here as well).

The idea that tinkering with/bribing/bombing sectors of those nations will turn them into something they are not is a silly dream.

[ScubaDiver]

I can’t speak to the natu4re of Iran as I’ve never been there. But, I’ve spent a great deal of time in Turkey over the years. Much of the country is populated with people who are ideologically closer to your average European than to a devout Muslim. They’re Turks who happen to be Muslim, not Muslims who happen to be Turks. Erdogan represents a minority cohort of uber-religious zealots.