Why would a NATO ally buy Russian weapons?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

The two countries are now heading toward the most serious confrontation yet. The Pentagon warned Monday that Turkey would face “grave consequences” if it went ahead with its planned purchase of a Russian S-400 air-defense system rather than the Patriot system the United States has offered. NATO commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti on Tuesday implored Ankara to “reconsider.”

Erdogan responded, in effect, by flipping the bird. “It’s done,” Erdogan said Wednesday of the S-400 purchase. “There can never be a turning back. This would not be ethical, it would be immoral. Nobody should ask us to lick up what we spat.”

...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/erdogan-sabotages-turkeys-progress-by-turning-away-from-the-west/2019/03/07/fa4fd3b0-4128-11e9-922c-64d6b7840b82_story.html?utm_term=.d25ed998c33f

They are presumably buying weapons from a nation that they are in an alliance to be defended from.

[pwb]

1. Russia would make sure they don't work?

Or have some kind of back door to mess them up. I blame Trump.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. NATO is supposed to be an alliance of democracies.

According to Freedom House Turkey is not free:


https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/turkey

[paleotn]

7. Turkey has rarely been free or democratic.

They're a part of NATO by necessity (geography) only.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. At one time they were the model for secular Islamic government.

[2naSalit]

2. Seems that erdogan has been playing

both sides of the fence for a few years now. I think he's a paid agitator.

[okaawhatever]

4. Not good news. nt

[Renew Deal]

5. The Turks always play both sides.

[AJT]

6. The art of the deal...

So much winning....
Jamal Khashoggi?