Turkey is no stranger to tumultuous times. As the Republic of Turkey and as the Ottoman Empire before that, the country has weathered foreign invasion, military coups and civil strife. Today, Turkey has found itself once again in a trying time. The country faces significant militant threats in its territory and on its borders at the same time that instability and declining tourism jeopardize its economy. While Turkey's military undergoes a massive reorganization, the country must contend with a hostile government in neighboring Syria, whose powerful Russian ally is just now beginning to mend ties with Ankara. What's more, the July 15 coup attempt and its aftermath have strained Turkey's relations with NATO.
Some of Turkey's problems may appear arduous -- and they are. But the troubles Turkey is grappling with today pale in comparison with those of previous eras. Time and again, history has shown that Turkey's geographically advantageous position...
