I share the pessimism of this interview. Israel didn't like having an Iranian puppet on its borders with Syria and Lebanon. It may come to find that having a Turkish puppet (on the Syrian border, at least) will be every bit as bad.
George Friedman called this a few years ago. The 1918 consensus of what Turkiye was will fall away under a generation of Erdogan's education system. With the fall of Syria, Turkey's borders are now even closer to Mecca and Medina. He's going after the Hijaz now.
This is why the Middle East seems like a Gordian Knot.
The Kurds are U.S. allies because they have decades of experience fighting for freedom against the extreme Islamist terrorist groups and Assad’s totalitarian regime. Turkey is America’s ally by way of the NATO treaty. Both these American allies despise each other … so it seems like a no-win situation either way.
Does anyone remember that Star Trek movie back in the 1980s? There was a reference to the unwinnable training exercise that was called the Kobayashi Maru scenario. Only James T. Kirk, as a then cadet, was clever enough to actually win the exercise.
How to resolve this everlasting Gordian Knot that is the Middle East? Where is the modern day Alexander the Great who can think out side the box and cut the knot?
Or, where is our version of Captain Kirk who can beat this real life Kobayashi Maru reality that is the Middle East?
If anything … the Middle East seems more like that Ancient Greek mythological monster the Hydra, spitting deadly poison. If you cut off one head of the multi-headed beast, another quickly regenerates and replaces it. Doesn’t that pretty much sum up most of the Middle East, with the exception of Israel?
Replace one Arab or Islamic tyrant, and watch and see something just as bad, or even worse, take its place. Recent examples … Libya; Iraq; Egypt; and now likely Syria.
Didn't mention Turkish Economy at all.
Turkey has awful inflation (over 20%) and awful unemployment (about 10%). Of course in some past years it was even worse.
Still at some point you'd think Turks themselves would say "ENOUGH".
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You know, one would like to think that. But in all of these countries, the opposition can’t get its act together.
Unfortunately true. And sadly in Venezuela where the opposition did get its act together, the corrupt party prevails (for now).
I share the pessimism of this interview. Israel didn't like having an Iranian puppet on its borders with Syria and Lebanon. It may come to find that having a Turkish puppet (on the Syrian border, at least) will be every bit as bad.
Maybe even worse.
Exactly.
George Friedman called this a few years ago. The 1918 consensus of what Turkiye was will fall away under a generation of Erdogan's education system. With the fall of Syria, Turkey's borders are now even closer to Mecca and Medina. He's going after the Hijaz now.
Your work is very important Ms. Pletka and almost always a valid analysis grounded in first principles. Thank you.
We are on the cusp of great things. The opportunity is ripe for action by the so-called free world to act for a lasting era of calm if not peace.
This is why the Middle East seems like a Gordian Knot.
The Kurds are U.S. allies because they have decades of experience fighting for freedom against the extreme Islamist terrorist groups and Assad’s totalitarian regime. Turkey is America’s ally by way of the NATO treaty. Both these American allies despise each other … so it seems like a no-win situation either way.
Does anyone remember that Star Trek movie back in the 1980s? There was a reference to the unwinnable training exercise that was called the Kobayashi Maru scenario. Only James T. Kirk, as a then cadet, was clever enough to actually win the exercise.
See: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Kobayashi_Maru_scenario
How to resolve this everlasting Gordian Knot that is the Middle East? Where is the modern day Alexander the Great who can think out side the box and cut the knot?
See: https://greekreporter.com/2024/10/07/alexander-the-great-gordian-knot/
Or, where is our version of Captain Kirk who can beat this real life Kobayashi Maru reality that is the Middle East?
If anything … the Middle East seems more like that Ancient Greek mythological monster the Hydra, spitting deadly poison. If you cut off one head of the multi-headed beast, another quickly regenerates and replaces it. Doesn’t that pretty much sum up most of the Middle East, with the exception of Israel?
Replace one Arab or Islamic tyrant, and watch and see something just as bad, or even worse, take its place. Recent examples … Libya; Iraq; Egypt; and now likely Syria.
See: https://mythologysource.com/hydra-serpent-greek-myth/
Note: An authoritarian leader like Egypt’s el-Sisi is probably as good as it gets.
WTH indeed!