Hell Hath No Fury Like a Teflon Sultan

When we learn, crucially, that Iran supported Turkey's "brave defense of democracy", as tweeted by Foreign Minister Zarif, it's clear how Erdogan, in a mater of only a few weeks, reconfigured the whole regional picture. And that spells out Eurasia integration and Turkey deeply connected to the New Silk Roads -- not NATO. No wonder the Beltway -- for whom, overwhelmingly, Erdogan is the proverbial "erratic and unreliable ally" -- is freaking out. That dream of Turkish colonels under direct CIA orders is over -- at least for the foreseeable future.

So what about Europe? Yildirim already said that Turkey might reinstate the death penalty -- to be applied to the coup plotters. This means, in essence, bye bye EU. And bye bye to the European Parliament approving visa-free travel for Turks visiting Europe. Erdogan after all already got what he wanted from chancellor Merkel; those 6 billion euros to contain the refugee crisis that he essentially unleashed. Merkel bet the farm on Erdogan. Now she's talking to herself -- while the Sultan is able to dial God on Face Time.