Tension between the US and Turkey has escalated dramatically in the wake of Ankara’s far-reaching crackdown on those suspected to have been involved in Friday’s failed military coup. In addition to more than 2,000 members of the Turkish armed forces, Ankara has ordered that at least 50 high-level civil servants, 8,000 police officers, and 30 regional governors with alleged ties to the coup plotters be either arrested or fired, according to Reuters. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also told a crowd of supporters Saturday night that the country would look into reinstating the death penalty for the “traitors” who plotted to overthrow his government. On Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry cautioned Turkey against abandoning due process in its crackdown, implying that Turkey’s NATO membership would be scrutinized if the country began to “backslide” away from its democratic principles. “NATO also has a requirement with respect to democracy,” Kerry told reporters in Brussels on Monday. “Obviously a lot of people have been arrested, and arrested very quickly. The level of vigilance and scrutiny is obviously going to be significant in the days ahead. Hopefully we can work in a constructive way that prevents a backsliding.” The warning that Turkey’s…