LONDON -- The ambiguous attitude of Western European countries toward Turkish entry into full membership of the European Union has produced a flood of comments, as well as a good deal of anger and confusion in Turkey.

Opinion is polarized into two camps. On one side there are those who think that keeping Turkey waiting is a fatal strategic error, demonstrating Europe's failure to come to terms with Islam and passing up the chance for Europe to build bridges to the Middle East and into Central Asia.

On the other side stand a number of leading European politicians who argue that Turkey is neither a Christian country nor geographically part of Europe. The sheer size of the country will upset the whole European balance.