We cannot short-circuit the democratic process in Turkey.

Submitted by Isaac Haskiya (Denmark), Mar 4, 2010 at 02:16

There is an immense difference between being elected and what you do after you are empowered. Hamas was elected democratically with a majority and chose to attack Israel instead of developing Gaza in peace and stability. Israel reacted. The Nazi Party was elected without a majority and usurped full power by force, intimidation and intricate political maneuvers. It also made the mistake of attacking its neighbouring countries on top of committing crimes within its own state. The Allied reacted.

We cannot short-circuit the democratic process for fear of what will ensue. We can intervene if what follows harms people within and outside the borders of the state, at a lesser degree in the former case and a lot more forcefully in the latter.
All of this is in theory. The International Opinion can speak its mind and recommend caution but does not vote in Turkey. Turks must be allowed to hold their elections without disturbance.

Furthermore referring to a parallel between Turkey and Hamas or the Nazis is more a figure of speech - like the sheep jumping off a cliff - than a description of the complex political reality in Turkey. Bluntly put, it is for the Turks to decide if Erdogan is good or bad for them!

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