Rival Powers Use Islamists Against Each Other

Submitted by Dave, Oct 9, 2017 at 17:00

Sure, Dr. Pipes is totally right that autocratic, repressive, Islamist Turkey does not belong in freedom-loving NATO. So why is it that so many NATO officials are afraid to expel Turkey? At least partially it's because they do not want Russia to further strengthen its alliance with an alienated Turkey, nor do they want Turkey to totally commit to the Sino-Russian military block. Erdogan has already hooked up with an eastern economic block which exists as an alternative to the EU. The hope must still exist that Turkey can be used as a check on China and Russia.

An even uglier alliance proved useful several years ago when the CIA supplied Stinger missiles to the mujihadeen fighting the Russians in Afghanistan. The Russians lost, the Soviet Empire collapsed, and our erstwhile Islamist allies pulled 911 in thanks.
Meanwhile, the Russians use the Iranians and their toxic allies to foment trouble for us in the Mideast, even helping develop and protect the Iranian nuclear program. And who knows? Someday, infidel Russia may come to rue those nukes.

Realpolitik is often useful, but when it bolsters Islamists it can be self-destructive.

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