FINALLY: RALPH PETERS SEES WHAT WE SAW: TURKEY IS NO ALLY OF THE WEST

RALPH PETERS TODAY:

The US and the European Union cling to the fiction that Turkey's a "westernized Muslim democracy." But Turkey's moving to the east as fast as the Islamist leaders of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) can drag it there.

Turkish leaders visit the West and sing, "Democracy, democracy, democracy!" We coo and clap. Then they go east and cry, "Islam, Islam, Islam!" And we insist they don't mean it.

Then there's Turkey's unfortunate NATO membership. Since the rise of its Islamists, Turkey has been a Trojan horse, not an ally. What happens now if Ankara provokes a military confrontation? How would we respond, given NATO's mutual-defense agreements?

THE WEEKLY STANDARD NOTICES FOR THE FIRST TIME, TOO:

The most ominous aspect of the flotilla incident is Turkey's involvement. The flotilla bound for Gaza, in violation of the blockade, was allowed to leave a Turkish port. The main sponsor was a Turkish charity known for ties to jihadist groups. The Turkish diplomatic and governmental apparatus sprung into action at the first sign of trouble -- which of course there was, since the "peace activists" onboard the flotilla were masked and armed with lead pipes and knives.

Why is this troubling? Because Turkey is a member of NATO

WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR MONTHS.

THE FIRST TIME HERE - IN JANUARY!

I'M GLAD THE BIG-TIMERS AND FRONTBENCHERS ARE WAKING UP.

IT'S TIME TO KICK TURKEY OUT OF NATO.

THEY ARE MORE ALIGNED WITH IRAN THAN THE WEST.