Continuing from my previous post...

Iraq is a mess:With the world so polarized and so much media coverage on the matter, it’s no surprise Iraq is a black and white issue. As always, reality refuses to agree with anyone in particular. First of all, instead of discussing Iraq, one should instead be discussing Kurdistan, al-Anbar, greater Baghdad and the Shia south. Kurdistan is the most successful part of Iraq with almost no violence and thriving business. Al-Anbar has come a long way and although not out of the woods yet, has largely quieted down and is at a point where political progress can be made. Whether it will be is another question. As for greater Baghdad, it’s still a disaster. The Shia south is “relatively” stable albeit neither peaceful nor anywhere near as successful as Kurdistan. Ultimately, the true test for the US and for Iraqis themselves is getting them to believe in “Iraq.”

The US ruined US-EU relations: Since the end of the Cold War, both America and Europe have been operating on an ad hoc basis, without any guiding grand strategy. Needless to say, the existential threat posed by the USSR which firmly bonded the two together since 1945 was gone. A redefinition of the relationship was coming long before 2003. In the 1990s, Europe and the US were too busy relishing peace and prosperity to let differences over the The Gulf War,Yugoslav civil war, Kosovo or minor bombings around the world bother us. Discussions of NATO’s changing mission slowly gained momentum and the need thereof was finally proven in the 1999 liberation of Kosovo. Tensions have no doubt been exacerbated by the current administration whose words and deeds have often made the situation worse. But the fact remains that a redefinition has been long awaiting the transatlantic relationship. The US and EU will remain close as before, but our goals, values and what means we achieve them with must again be newly invented.

Turkey is going Islamist For almost half a millenium, Turkey was oriented towards the Middle East, no doubt because of much of it was part of the Ottoman Empire. The post-WWI Turkey we know and love is rather an exception, historically seen, in its Western orientation, again due partially to the Cold War and the Soviet threat on its eastern border. While the new Turkish Republic has adopted the Latin alphabet, the democratic political system and open markets, it still remains very much a part of the Middle East historically, culturally, economically and politically. Like Europe, with the geopolitical situation having completely changes since 1991 and with a renewed focus on the Middle East, Turkey is rediscovering its neighbors. This move eastwards has little to do with any domestic Turkish administration or that of Europe or the US.

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