The Middle East entered the new year with a new balance of power. Two weeks ago, Qatar and Egypt started normalizing their relations. This reconciliation, however, affects not only these two countries, but also the wider region to a great extent and implies a newly emerging equilibrium.
Hatred toward the “other” has never been so causal, abundant and widespread.
“We can’t keep doing the same thing for five decades and expect a different result. It’s time for a new approach. We will end an outdated approach that failed to advance our interests and instead begin to normalize relations between our countries.”
The fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is unifying not only Baghdad and Arbil, but also the Kurds in Iraq and Syria, thus creating a completely new Kurdish reality in the region.
You know what they say: 'Coming events cast their shadows first.' Even though it was not announced with trumpets, by bombing ISIL targets in Iraq on Dec. 3, Iran has joined the anti-ISIL coalition
You must have heard of the famous “Pottery Barn Rule.” Accordingly, in a retail store you are responsible for the damage you do to the goods on display. In other words: Once you break it, you own it.
Turkey has been hosting three key Americans in the last three days. One is Vice President Joe Biden. The second is John Allen, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) strategy.
Last week I had the chance to have a tête-à-tête conversation with Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), one of the United States’ most established think tanks.
Iraq’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim al-Jaafari was in Ankara for the last two days. This has been the first high level official visit since the relations between Turkey and Iraq froze during Nouri al-Maliki’s Prime Ministry. Hence, his message was quite critical.
