Erdogan, the PM of Turkey, is a jerk, but he is a smart jerk.
Erdogan was hoping to cause an international incident with his "Gaza Freedom Flotilla," and he did.
It was a win-win for Erdogan. If Israel allowed the flotilla to go through, Erdogan was a hero. If Israel stopped the flotilla, Erdogan would say the right things and show the right indignation, and Erdogan would be a hero.
In an article from earlier this week, Debka said that Erdogan had arranged for the flotilla in order to use it as leverage for his own political aspirations, and Debka was right.
As we speak, riots are breaking out all over Turkey, there are reports that one of the Turkish MPs on the boat was killed, Israelis are warned to stay away from Turkey, and Turkish Jews, already targeted since Operation Cast Lead, are fearing for their lives and the lives of their children.