As of this moment, it appears that the military coup attempt in Turkey has failed. Walter Russell Mead explains why it will make Islamist strongman Erdogan much, much stronger:

The main question now in Turkey is what happens next. The most likely scenario, and it is an ugly one, is that Erdogan and his followers use the putsch to consolidate the strong man rule that Erdogan clearly hungers to build. Purges of real or accused Gülenists from the military, journalism and civil service, crackdowns on any public criticism, constitutional ‘reform’ that reduces freedom and shores up Erdogan’s personal power: these goals will all now be easier to accomplish.

Meanwhile, new UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson might have hoped that a successful coup would have spared him the awkwardness of having to meet Erdogan. Here’s why.

Too much news this year…