Turkey in the Balance

This is an important story, lost in the midst of reporting about Gaza. Either the Islamist party in control of the civil government in Turkey is using a bogus threat of a coup to destroy the elements committed to the secular and republican constitution that dates back to Ataturk, or the military is, in fact, planning a coup to topple the civilian Islamist government before it becomes entrenched.

If this crisis becomes more acute, it would place President Obama in a difficult position. Does he support a military coup that overthrows a democratically elected government, but one that is also using its power to undermine the secular provisions written into the constitution? Or do you support an Islamist party using democratic means to achieve what may turn out to be undemocratic ends? Keep in mind that Turkey is a member of NATO.