Repudiate Erdogan

President Obama calls Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan one of his best friends among foreign leaders.  He has touted Erdogan’s efforts to Islamicize Turkey’s secular constitution as a model for other Muslim nations.

And he ignores Erdogan’s support for the terrorist group Hamas, and his continuing hostility towards Israel.

Such indulgent sentiments towards an unapologetic Islamist are now being repaid by Erdogan with the contempt they deserve.  His regime is using increasingly violent techniques to suppress demonstrations across Turkey.  To date, such repression has only intensified the opposition to Erdogan and his Islamist agenda.

This reprehensible behavior affords President Obama an opportunity to do what he should have done long before:  Disassociate himself and America from Erdogan’s radical program – and make clear that its continued pursuit will harm U.S.-Turkish relations.