Consider five factors that had no effect on the very warm reception given by President Barack Obama to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan: –While the U.S. government has pressured Erdogan not to visit the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, Erdogan announced in the White House Rose Garden that he would do so. An alleged U.S. ally says publicly in front of Obama while being hosted by him that he is going to defy the United States. This is not some routine matter. With previous presidents, if … [Read more...]
Erdogan’s Kurdish Gambit
By May 17, 2013
Jerusalem Post, 17/5 On May 8th, fighters of the Kurdish PKK militia began to withdraw from their positions in Turkey, bound for their mountain strongholds in Kurdish-ruled northern Iraq. The decision by the PKK to withdraw is the result of … Continue reading → via Jonathan Spyer http://jonathanspyer.com/2013/05/17/erdogans-kurdish-gambit/ … [Read more...]
The Israeli Debate over Syria
By May 16, 2013
Tablet Magazine, 14/5: The civil war in Syria has led to a keen debate among the professional echelon tasked with advising policymakers in Israel. This debate has been reflected in a more subdued public conversation and occasionally in spectacular events—like … Continue reading → via Jonathan Spyer http://jonathanspyer.com/2013/05/16/the-israeli-debate-over-syria/ … [Read more...]
How Much Did U.S. Policy Makers Learn about the Middle East in Forty Years? Some Proof
By April 26, 2013
Consider this quotation: “Israeli pessimism seems largely if not entirely unwarranted. It seems based on an extraordinary lack of understanding of what happened in the Arab world in the last year and a half. Rather than girding their loins for the fifth, sixth, seventh Israeli-Arab wars. The Israelis might examine more carefully than they seem to have done so far the alternative of a peaceful accommodation with the Arabs.” This is not a reference to the “Arab Spring.” No, it’s … [Read more...]
Common Sense About the Syrian Mess
By April 25, 2013
“I know what the world thinks of us, we are Communists, and of course I have said very clearly that we are not Communists; very clearly.” –Fidel Castro, 1959 U.S. policy toward Syria has changed but it is too late. A senior State Department official said at the meeting just concluded of opposition groups: “We have to help the moderates, people like [Chief of Staff of the Free Syrian Army] Salim Idris….” This is what I proposed two years ago but I have to admit … [Read more...]
What’s in a Name: Is Associated Press Laundering Islamism?
By April 24, 2013
Political leaders and government officials are paid for trying to avoid, mitigate, or manage damage to their countries. Experts and journalists are supposed to warn about them and explain the dangers. This isn’t happening. Instead, language is being used to define threats down to the minimum by speaking of revolutionary, anti-American, antisemitic forces quite willing to use terrorism when it suits them into moderates. The latest step toward making it impossible to understand the … [Read more...]
Mini-Guide on Different Groups’ Responses to Obama’s Trip to Israel
By March 24, 2013
Since President Barack Obama’s trip to the Middle East was such a turning point for U.S. policy, I thought it should be summarized by showing characteristic responses of different groups. These are, of course, generalizations, and there are many variations. The Far Leftist: Why has Obama been so nice to Israel? He’s sold out and become just another typical president who backs Israel. How infuriating! The Left-Liberal: Did you see how Obama told off the Israelis and demanded they make … [Read more...]
Israel’s New Government: Not What You May Think
By March 18, 2013
On the issues about which the world is obsessed, Israel’s new government is basically a continuation of the old one. That is the key point to keep in mind regarding the new coalition which has a comfortable 68-seat majority, well over the 61 minimum parliamentarians required. Basically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in a strong position as these things go. It is notable that there is not a single other person seriously considered to be a serious candidate for prime minister. Of … [Read more...]
