It's a caricature to say that Turkey has chosen the Middle
East, or Islam, over the West. Turkey's aspiration for full membership in the
club of the West, including the European Union, is still a driving force. But Turkey
aspires to many things, and some may contradict each other. The country
wants to be a regional power in a region deeply suspicious of the West, of
Israel, and of the United States; a Sunni power acting as a broker for Sunnis in
Lebanon, Iraq, and elsewhere; a charter member of the new nexus of emerging
powers around the world; and a dependable ally of the West. When Turkey is
forced to choose among these roles, the neighborhood tends to win out, and that's
when you get votes against sanctions on Iran.