“For the record, Turkey has few useful strengths.”
Geographic Control of the Bosphorus and Black Sea. Proximity to Russia, Iran and others for monitoring and supporting potential military operations (like the current air strikes from Incirlik). 80 million people (~18 million military age males). Second largest military in NATO (after the USA). Potential (and previous) example of modern Western secular government within the muslim world.
Better that they are turned to the good through regime change, than trown over to the dark side.
You missed the point - they blew the opportunity for ‘regime change’ and are already well down the road to the dark side. Second largest military in NATO means jack squat - most of them are barely literate conscripts in their Army, which controls the entire Armed Forces. When you learn Turkish, move there and work with their military for two years, come on back and we can have a serious discussion.