Europe's 'fat school bully' problem

In 2004 when the then prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was receiving praise after praise from the West's blind leaders for his "reformism and supreme democratic credentials," he abruptly reverted to his Islamist self: He drafted a bill that would outlaw adultery. Under pressure from Brussels, he had to drop the idea, but since then, he has danced around the theme of outlawing "sins" stated in the Islamic holy book.  

In its 2004 progress report, the European Commission asserted that Turkey was a "special candidate" and that "it would remain so." The commission was right and wrong. Twelve years on, Turkey is a very special candidate and a very special nuisance.  

In 2004, the progress report recommended the start of formal accession talks with Turkey, partly because Brussels, too, was blinded by Mr. Erdoğan's "reformism and supreme democratic credentials," and partly because of reasons of realpolitik: Why dismiss a fat school bully from the school and turn him into a genuine vagabundo in the neighborhood with entirely unpredictable behavior, most probably criminal, instead of trying to turn him into a good boy?  

Very rational. Nevertheless, unrealistic. The school principal missed one very important point: The fat school bully privately hated his neighborhood, his school, his teachers and his classmates. He had enrolled at the school only to earn a diploma. He never felt he belonged to the school. Nevertheless, he thought he could fake and win that diploma while refusing to comply with the school rules. Now he is threatening loudly that he will smash the school's windows if his teachers keep reporting his bullying. 

In fact, back in their "reformist years," Mr. Erdoğan and his fellow Islamists had a totally different agenda....