"Good point, this. Rationality is a contested concept in politics and any other "science" involving human behaviour, and the West gives it too great a credence"
I accept the point and I'm no particular fan of Mr Erdogan, one way or the other. But I expect that one does not reach the highest office of his country without some sense of self-preservation and political savvy. What possible motivation or lapse of judgment could account for supporting a chaotic and deadly upheaval of one's own country - a country which has long sought to establish a secular government? If nothing else it would amount to political, if not biological suicide.