[markomalley]

The thing Pipes does not discuss is that Erdoğan and his AKP party want this exact result: the re-establishment of Turkey as an Islamist state with the Caliphate and Sultanate both being established in Istanbul...in other words, a recreation of the Ottoman Empire, but with stronger religious overtones.

Frankly, for this reason, I think Pipes' views are somewhat Pollyanish.

[Madam Theophilus]

He also seems to overlook others in the Islamic world who are also wanting to reestablish the Caliphate: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. I may be wrong, but I think the ISIS and Taliban have more affinity to the Saudi’s religious leaders than to Turkish.

[The_Republic_Of_Maine]

"Second, the presidential visit took place on one level while the fighting in Syria and Iraq took place on quite another; the two can occur simultaneously. "

Kind of like our war with Iran while Kerry talks with them about peace, peace and killing ISIS?

[grania]

Thanka for this article. It goes a long way toward explaining Turkey's part in unfolding events.

Turkey's in NATO. Turkey's been helpful to ISIS, who seem to be Nazi-level butchers. Turkey has part of a Kurdish population which I'd think at this point will be doing whatever it takes to be an independent nation.

Is NATO at some point going to have to defend Turkey against the terrorists that Turkey enabled?

It just keeps getting messier.

[Uncle Miltie]

What is the dissection of ISIS support between Saudi, Turkey and others?

[justa-hairyape]

Turkey could tie Benghazi to ISIS.