"In spite of all temptations"

What alien has traded places with Gideon Rachman, the Chief Foreign Correspondent for The Financial Times? In his latest composition, "End the hypocrisy and talk Turkey" (24 August), Mr. Rachman raised the question of what exactly is the European Union (EU) strategic goals vis-à-vis Turkey. Make no mistake, the debate is important, and it provides the West (not just the EU) with a sense of the future.

Mr. Rachman believes, "It would indeed be a wonderful thing if Turkey were to join the EU." Mr. Rachman writes, Turkey is a "secular democracy." Under the Constitution promulgated by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey is a secular democracy. However, under Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Prime Minister of Turkey), sadly it is no longer true. Mr. Erdogan has purged all opposition in Turkey, including the military that has been the protector of Kemal Ataturk’s Constitution. So today Turkey is an Islamic state in all but name. In the end, Turkey in the EU would be the beginning of the end of western civilization in Europe.

Mr. Rachman makes less and less sense since he began carrying water for the Miliband brothers (England’s Labor Party). To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, 'it’s not that the Milibrand brothers don’t know anything, it’s just that everything they know is wrong.’ Unfortunately, as result of this liaison, Mr. Rachman has compromised his craft.

In conclusion, Mr. Rachman should heed the words of another Englishman -- "But in spite of all temptations, to belong to other nations, He remains an Englishman."