Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is ratcheting up the pressure on Saudi Arabia for the now-admitted killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi – a strategy that threatens the US effort to contain Iran. Instead of letting the United States and Saudi … [Read more...] about Erdogan a threat to US effort to contain Iran*
Turkey
Christians Under Fire*
Left: "A crane winches a large red cross from one of three domes on the Guantou church in Wenzhou. The Chinese government has ordered the demolition of multiple churches around the country." Credit: Gospal Herlad Although Andrew Brunson called on … [Read more...] about Christians Under Fire*
Russia Agrees To Rein In Iran*
Putin has given Israel carte blanche to take military action against Iranian targets in Syria, and against Iran's proxy Hezbollah, in Syria and Lebanon. A couple of weeks ago two contemporary masters of international statecraft met in … [Read more...] about Russia Agrees To Rein In Iran*
Comparative Thuggery Challenging Interests of US And Its Allies*
Left: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, May 14, 2017. Credit: New Indian Express. - Three recent events, each … [Read more...] about Comparative Thuggery Challenging Interests of US And Its Allies*
The Great Thug and the Little Thug
Regime rallies in Iran are filled with crowds yelling "Death to the Great Satan and Death to the Little Satan". The Great Satan, of course, is the US and the Little Satan is Israel. The attack by Russian military contractors on US forces in Syria … [Read more...] about The Great Thug and the Little Thug
Erdogan’s Nuclear Ambitions*
Turkey is rapidly developing into a threat to peace and stability in the Middle East. The regime of President [formerly Prime Minister] Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AKP Justice and Development Party are increasingly authoritarian. Their effort to … [Read more...] about Erdogan’s Nuclear Ambitions*
Seismic upheavals in the Middle East*
The recent serious earthquake in the border areas between Iran and Iraq felt as far afield as Israel, might serve as a metaphor for the political upheavals taking place currently in the region. You might think that the geo-political situation could … [Read more...] about Seismic upheavals in the Middle East*
Russia’s S-400 missile: A new Middle East invasion*
Right: The flexible and fast S-400 missile system. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry. Powerful and popular anti-missile/aircraft system is a game changer with its ability to use ultra-fast long- and short-range missiles Saudi Arabia’s agreement … [Read more...] about Russia’s S-400 missile: A new Middle East invasion*