Erdogan furioso

Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University at a ceremony heralding the start of the academic year. His speech is a giant embrace of Turks across the world. In essence, though, it is a speech about Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He is accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogan, the speaker of the Grand National Assembly, Ismail Kahraman, and ministers. His speech on Saturday in Rize, on the Black Sea coast, is shared with the world through the presidency's English translation. Erdogan is at the center of his universe. A universe that is expanding.

On Turkey's eastern and southern borders war is raging. The elimination of the so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq will leave space for various ethnic and religious groups to fight for territory and influence. Around Mosul gather soldiers of the Iraqi army, Shiite militias trained by Iran, Sunni fighters trained by Turks,...