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Diplomatic Circles

by Bob Betzen

Kurdish_Nationals.jpgEven the dark cloud over US foreign policy left behind by the Bush administration has a silver lining. Other countries now know that they can’t count on America for political leadership, so they’ve taken a more active role in pursuing their own diplomatic initiatives.

Kurdistan, Iran and Turkey
No group has embraced the new reality of Iraq more than the Kurds. Residents living in and around Erbil enjoy a relatively peaceful, modern life in what they call Iraqi Kurdistan. Unfortunately, the behavior of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, has alarmed the neighbors.

A top Turkish general recently confirmed that his forces are coordinating their attacks on Kurdish rebels with the Iranians. Saddam Hussein’s iron fist impeded Kurdish ambitions to create an independent state carved out of northern Iraq, southern Turkey and western Iran. The power vacuum left by Hussein’s removal opened the door to new battles over these disputed territories.

Turkey, Syria and Israel
Ongoing fighting with the Kurds hasn’t left Turkey entirely preoccupied. Turkey is also hosting a series of peace talks between Israel and Syria. Syria serves as a conduit for Iranian aid to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. An enforceable peace treaty with Syria therefore would reduce Iranian influence in the region and help stabilize Israel’s northern border.

The Bush administration rejects any diplomatic contact with Syria, which they accuse of supporting terrorists in Iraq. That’s why Israel turned to Turkey, a friendly, majority Muslim country in the region.

Israel, Iran and Lebanon
Israel hopes that a peace agreement with Syria will also bring them closer to a lasting truce with Hezbollah, which now exercises veto power over the government of Lebanon, and Hamas, which runs part of the Palestinian territories. The Bush administration opposes all talks with Hezbollah and Hamas because it considers them terrorist organizations.

Hamas and Hezbollah came to power through elections. Essentially the Bush administration wants to spread democracy throughout the middle east, but voters may only elect politicians friendly to the United States – or else. The president’s point of view is preposterous, and everyone knows it. The US needs a president who can handle reality.

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Posted in World View on June 23rd, 2008

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