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To the Point

Is Turkey the Next Dictatorship?

Turkey is both the historic "crossroads of Europe and Asia" and a powerful presence in the Middle East. As recently as 2009, President Obama visited Turkey and praised Tayyip Erdogan for curbing the military and showing that Islam can coexist with democracy.

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By Warren Olney • May 10, 2014 • 1 min read

Turkey is both the historic "crossroads of Europe and Asia" and a powerful presence in the Middle East. As recently as 2009, President Obama visited Turkey and praised Tayyip Erdogan for curbing the military and showing that Islam can coexist with democracy. Since then, the Prime Minister has brutalized protesters, banned Twitter and YouTube, and jailed scores of reporters. This weekend, after his party won local elections around the country, he promised criminal action against his opponents and said, "There will be those who have to flee." Will he try to prolong his rule? What's at stake for Syria, Iran, Israel and the European Union? Is it time for the US to start paying attention?

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Caitlin Shamberg

    KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Benjamin Gottlieb

    Reporter, Fill-in Host

  • KCRW placeholder

    Henri Barkey

    Lehigh University / Wilson Center

  • KCRW placeholder

    Hugh Pope

    International Crisis Group

  • KCRW placeholder

    Pinar Tremblay

    Al Monitor / California State Polytechnic University Pomona

    NewsNationalPolitics
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