It's important to understand that Turkey has something of unstable political history over the past several decades resulting in military coups of one dimension or another. Despite the military's subordination to civilian command on paper,it can be far from such inreality.

Turkey is officially and pretty much in practice a secular state. But, given the diverse elements of Islam such as we know to exist in the Islamic world, Turkey's population, politicians, and military have to be careful about what they say and do.

For years now I've characterized Turkey and Egypt as faux democracies because their militaries are always hovering around the edges (witness Egypt). Perry is, plaina nd simple, ignorant when it comes to international affairs. I'm embarrassed by him.