John, you will remember Mustafa Akyol, a Turkish journalist who spoke at the Oslo Freedom Forum a couple of weeks ago. Let me do a little quoting from my journal:
Akyol says that he is demonized by Turkey’s ruling party, the AKP. They call him a Zionist, a CIA agent, and a tool of the “interest-rate lobby.” . . .
Analyzing the illiberal trends in his country, Akyol says that it will not become another Iran or Saudi Arabia. But it may be something like another Russia.
Which sounds right .
It seems to me the Turkish people are pulling back from the brink — if the authorities will let them. Very good news.
P.S. Pardon the dorky heading, above, but the election results do contribute to a lighthearted mood.