As the world, and especially NATO (of which the United States is a member), looks on at the events in Turkey, Barack Obama has come out in support of the authoritarian regime that was looking at being overthrown, rather than in support of the more secular and non-Islamist side. Via POLITICO

“The President and Secretary agreed that all parties in Turkey should support the democratically-elected Government of Turkey, show restraint, and avoid any violence or bloodshed. The Secretary underscored that the State Department will continue to focus on the safety and security of U.S. citizens in Turkey,” the statement form the White House said.

The State Department, meanwhile, used Twitter to warn Americans in Turkey to “shelter in place” and confirmed that martial law had been imposed in the country.

Just who was in charge of the country was not entirely clear, and the situation was extremely fluid. It bore echoes to what happened with the military takeover in Egypt in 2013, and could put Obama in a delicate situation.

The “democratically elected government” (if you can call it that) is Erdogan, the currently homeless leader who was refused asylum in Germany. Erdogan and the rest of the Turkish government has become increasingly authoritarian of late and has been outright threatening the nation’s religious minorities – Christians included. What’s more, NATO sees Erdogan and what he represents as the biggest barrier to Turkey’s full membership into NATO.

Turkey could be a great ally in the region, but alas, the Islamist portions of the government are not ready to join the West. The military is, however, and this coup was going to help with that – put in place a less-Islamist group to lead the country, make the social and political reforms necessary, and join a stronger group that sees you as an important nation to have on its side.

But, Obama, being the kind of guy he is, has decided to side with the radicals of Erdogan’s Turkey. Because of course he did.