Turkey's troubles

IT IS hard to find much good to say about any of the parties involved in the current goings-on in Turkey. By needlessly interfering in politics, the generals have made fools of themselves. By provocatively promoting Islam, some members of the government have called into question Turkey's adherence to secularism. By persistently squabbling, the country's conservatives have allowed these Islamists, who won barely a fifth of the vote at the last election, to lead the government. And by unwisely snubbing Turkey, the European Union has alienated a western ally whose friendship it needs. The consequences for both NATO and the EU could be far-reaching.