Atilla's Musings

Lebanon’s Protests Divide Hezbollah. Will It Strike Back?

Source:Daily Beast Date:19Nov2019

Iraq, Iran and Lebanon are in flames. A corrupt and self-interested political system and rising poverty seem to be the main causes.  Iran’s attempt to spread its Shia revolution appears as

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Erdogan Will Have Fewer Friends Than Ever When He Visits The U.S. This Week

Source:Huffington Post Date:13Nov2019

Fascinating account of how Turkey lost Washington.   Erdogan is set to visit Washington this week with his standing here at a historic low ― and the network that’s supposed to help him

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Can Turkey’s Prickly Relationship with the EU Be Repaired?

Source:Carnegie Europe Date:08Nov2019

Marc Pierini writes:   Given Turkey’s current domestic politics, it is doubtful that its leadership will heed any of the EU’s requests on rule of law, economic governance, or foreign policy.

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Turkey ratchets up crackdown at home as tanks roll into Syria

Source:Amnesty International Date:02Nov2019

Critical discussion on issues of Kurdish rights and politics has become even further off limits with hundreds of people detained merely for commenting or reporting on the offensive. They are

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The spectre of Syria silenced Arab protest. But now it’s finding its voice

Source:The Guardian Date:21Oct2019

Second Arab Spring? Any one?   his is the year that the spirit of protest in the region was proven to only have been dormant, rather than extinct. The Sudanese overthrew Omar al-Bashir in a

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Protests in Iraq may unseat the government

Source:Atlantic Council Date:19Oct2019

What is  this?  A new Arab Spring.  Along with Iraq, Lebanon, too is in disarray:   The protesters want economic and political reforms that ensure social justice, economic opportunities,

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Turkey’s Russia Affair

Source:TurkeyAnalyst Date:26Sep2019

An insightful analysis of what binds Putin and Erdogan.   Author Mr Kiniklioglu also cites the costs for Turkey.  Let me add another one:  Turkey at odds with the west will never overcome 

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Is the U.S. Handing Northeast Syria to Turkey?

Source:Middle East Forum Date:22Sep2019

A balanced article explaining in detail Turkish, American and Kurdish stakes in the proposed safe zone in North East Syria, which has become the leading focus of Turish foreign policy.  The

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The View from Syria’s Peace Talks

Source:Foreign Policy in Focus Date:14Sep2019

A detailed review and assessment of chances of success for Astana Process:   The Syrian conflict remains massively complex. It combines a despotic, authoritarian regime, Islamic

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Turkey Faces “Almost a Revolution in the Middle East”

Source:Gatestone Institute Date:10Sep2019

Great article  on Turkey-Israel tensions.  Or, another failure of Erdogan’s foreign  policy initiatives   Apparently neither Turks nor Israelis took Turkey’s Islamists leaders

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