TURKEY CONVICTS 326 SECULAR MILITARY OFFICERS IN COUP TRIAL

A Turkish court on Friday convicted 326 military officers, including the former air force and navy chiefs, of plotting to overthrow the nation's Islamic-based government in 2003, in a case that has helped curtail the military's hold on politics. 

More than 400 other people — including journalists, academics, politicians and soldiers — are also on trial on charges of involvement in a conspiracy by an alleged gang of secular nationalists called "Ergenekon."

The former head of the Turkish armed forces, Gen. Ilker Basbug, and other military officers are, meanwhile, awaiting trial in a separate case.

NOTICE THAT THE NYTIMES TAKES THE POV OF THE ISLAMISTS:

THEY SAY THIS CASE LIMITS MILITARY'S POLITICAL POWER AND NOT THAT IT EXPANDS THE POWER OF THE EXPLICITLY ISLAMIST PARTY NOW IN ALMOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE ONCE SECULAR KEMALIST STATE.

IN THE PAST, TURKEY'S MILITARY STOOD BETWEEN A SECULAR STATE AND THE ISLAMISTS.

NOW THERE IS NO NATIONAL SECULAR INSTITUTION.

SURELY THIS WILL LEAD TO EVEN MORE ISLAMISM INVADING THE DAILY LIFE OF THE ONCE SECULAR TURKEY.

KEMAL ATTATURK MUST BE SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE.

BTW:

ERDOGAN IS OBAMA'S CLOSEST PAL ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT. 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER.

FINAL TAKE-AWAY:

THIS PROVES THAT ISLAMISM AND SECULARISM ARE FUNDAMENTALLY INCOMPATIBLE.

THIS MEANS THAT "ISLAMIC DEMOCRACIES" CAN ONLY OCCUR IN MONO0CULTURAL SOCIETIES WHERE PLURALISM IS NOT AN ISSUE.

AND NOT COINCIDENTALLY: ISLAMISTS WANT TO MAKE EACH COUNTRY AND EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE EARTH A MONO-CULTURE.

THEY WILL IF WE DON'T FIGHT BACK.