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Sunni Leaders Gaining Clout in Mideast
Keywords:
Hamas moves closer to the Sunni alliance of Turkey-Egypt-Quatar as it accepts a ceasefire with Israel. Other Arab nations including Tunisia move closer to this alliance. A fall of the Assad regime in Syria is increasingly likely and would lead to Syria joining this group of Sunni nations that stand apart from Shiite Iran.
Spillover effects for Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. from the civil war in Syria- Sept-Nov. 2012 and by 2014
05/21/2011
The Syrian civil war is spilling over into Iraq. Iraq is unable to protect its airspace from being used by Iran to ship supplies to the Assad regime, or to prevent Turkey's warplanes from using Iraqi airspace to attack Kurdish separatists. There is also a danger of a Sunni-Shiite conflict being exacerabated by former Sunni insurgents in Iraq joining up with Sunni refugees from Syria. The Maliki government in Iraq is moving closer to Iran as the Syrian civil war escalates and brings Sunnis together against the Assad regime. Turkey is also seeing the effects of a flow of refugees on its border with Syria. The Obama administration has been slow to respond to the rapidly developing situation as it concentrates on a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq with the lack of agreement on a residual U.S. troop presence. This leaves the U.S. less than the minimum leverage that is needed just as the sectarian divisions are worsening, after years of investing resources in the region. With the EU countries focussed on economic problems, and the Obama administration's lack of active support for the Free Syria movement, the broader involvement of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Russia in the region, the situation is likely to lead to an international crisis without U.S. leadership.
Grouped Articles
New York Times 04/22/2013
Clashes Carry Worries of a New Civil War
New York Times 04/28/2013
âBeyond War,â by David Rohde
New York Times 05/03/2013
Pentagon Plans for the Worst in Syria
Wall Street Journal 05/07/2013
What if the U.S. doesn’t intervene in Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
Why did Mr. Obama overrule his advisers on Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
The role of the Alawite sect in Syria under the French and under Hafez Assad since 1971
08/28/2012
The Alawite sect practices Islam in away that is different from Sunnis and Shiites. It is open to foreign influences and not a strict form of Islam. Alawites live in the coastal mountainous region of Syria. The French used the Alawites as a buffer against the large Sunni population of Syria. Alawites are about 12.5% in a country of 22.5 million. Many Alawites joined the army and government under the French. In 1971 an Alawite army officer, Hafez Asssad, took over the government in Syria. He used violent tactics to suppress opposition during his rule, not hesitating to gun down civilian populations. His son is the current president in 2012, and the same tactics against democracy protests have aroused international condemnation. Saudi Arabia and other Arab states have come out in support of Sunnis in Syria who lead the protests. Turkey with its long border with Syria is supporting the democracy protests and offers a haven for refugees from Syria. The U.S. Britain and Syria warn of military intervention if Syria's chemical weapons are moved and threaten safety.
Grouped Articles
Obamaâs Vow on Chemical Weapons Puts Him in Tough Spot
New York Times 05/04/2013
New York Times 05/18/2013
U.S., Allies Prepare to Act as Syria Intelligence Mounts
Wall Street Journal 08/27/2013
With the World Watching, Syria Amassed Nerve Gas
New York Times 09/07/2013
President Makes a Tough Pitch to Weary Nation
Wall Street Journal 09/10/2013
Elite Syrian Unit Scatters Chemical Arms Stockpile
Wall Street Journal 09/13/2013
Shiite Revival in Lebanon and Iranian Involvement
07/10/2006
How the Mideast picture is changing with the Shiite Revival. See the Link with Ali Nasr Key piece: Ancient Rift. Rising Academic Sees Sectarian Split Inflaming Mideast by Peter Waldman, WSJ, August 4, 2006.
Grouped Articles
With More Cash, Iran Poised to Help Mideast Friends
Wall Street Journal 07/16/2015
Amid Ties to Iran, Hezbollah Builds Its Own Identity
Wall Street Journal 07/21/2006
Israel's Hezbollah Fight Bolsters Syria's Assad
Wall Street Journal 07/21/2006
Key Issue in Lebanon Fighting: How to Stop Hezbollah Rockets
Wall Street Journal 07/17/2006
Mideast Democracy: One Violent Group Finds It Works Fine
Wall Street Journal 07/10/2006
Syrian President May Hold Key To Mideast Crisis
Wall Street Journal 07/18/2006
The sectarian divisions inside Syria between Sunnis and Alawites
03/10/2012
Grouped Articles
New York Times 05/18/2013
Would New Borders Mean Less Conflict in the Middle East?
Wall Street Journal 04/12/2015
Syrian Brass Defect, Buoying Rebels
Wall Street Journal 03/10/2012
U.S. and Other Countries Move to Increase Assistance to Syrian Rebels
New York Times 04/01/2012
Clinton Says Russian Inaction May Lead to Syrian Civil War
New York Times 05/31/2012
McCain, Lieberman and Graham: The risks of inaction in Syria - The Washington Post
Washington Post 08/06/2012
The Turkey-Egypt-Qatar Sunni alliance and Shiite Iran- struggle for influence in the Middle East
01/29/2009
Grouped Articles
Arabs Ask U.S. to Lead on Syria
Wall Street Journal 05/09/2013
Qatar's Aid to Egypt Raises Fears on Motives
Wall Street Journal 05/19/2013
Turkey Predicts Partnership With Egypt as Regional Anchors
New York Times 09/18/2011
Qatar Promises Free Fuel to Egypt
Wall Street Journal 06/11/2013
In Surprise, Emir of Qatar Plans to Abdicate, Handing Power to Son
New York Times 06/24/2013
Qatar's Emir Hands Power to Son
Wall Street Journal 06/26/2013
How Iranians See Themselves and the World
06/07/2006
On the nuclear issue and on the leadership in the Shiite world, on changing oil policy and foreign policy, Iran has expressed its own views.
Grouped Articles
Sohrab Ahmari: An Iranian Insider's View of the Geneva Deal
Wall Street Journal 11/27/2013
Iran Flexes New Clout Beyond Its Borders
Wall Street Journal 03/05/2015
U.S. Risks Political Backlash In Iran Nuclear Offer
Wall Street Journal 06/07/2006
Rising Academic Sees Sectarian Split Inflaming Mideast
Wall Street Journal 08/04/2006
Iran's struggle: The regime tightens its belt and its fist
Economist 01/19/2011
Israelis Embrace Washington's View Regarding Unilateral Military Strike
Wall Street Journal 03/05/2012
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