Middle East “NATO” to tackle threats like Islamic State, Iran, and Syria: a region on the verge…12/9/2014 The Middle East is once again about to face some rather dramatic changes. The good news is that the Gulf Cooperation Council plans to develop a NATO-like joint military command to provide for the rapid development of forces when a regional threat arises. Not only does this show a higher degree of commitment to regional security on behalf of Middle Eastern governments, the recognition of common security threats offer member states common ground from which to build stronger, broader ties. In turn, serving the common interests of these governments means their democratizing populations must have more of their interests served, if the Middle East is to be secure.
Meanwhile, several nations within the US-led coalition against the Islamic State are planning to send a total of 1,500 troops to help in the fight against IS. This could eventually pave the way for additional troops from coalition members. If Arab countries are among this list, whether now or late, it will demonstrate the kind of commitment Middle Eastern countries need to have in order to successfully defend themselves from threats like the Islamic State, especially when the military of a regional power, such as Iraq, becomes overwhelmed by a security threat. Unfortunately, the Iraqi military is months away from retaking territory lost to the Islamic State. Not wanting to risk the Iraqi military losing, once again, to the Islamic State, it is obviously better to wait a few months and concentrate on other means of weakening the Islamic State, especially their finances. Opening a second front against the Islamic State in order to provide a safe zone for Free Syrian Army rebels to operate is one strategy being considered by the Obama Administration that could have a strong impact, if it is part of a broader strategy that also addresses the threat of the Assad regime as well.
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Unfortunately, the winter holiday season for the Russian People, as well as those of neighboring countries, will be a bittersweet time with New Year and Christmas cheer overshadowed by the woes of a faltering economy that is sure to offer them higher prices and fewer earnings. Although the Western world did not implement economic sanctions over the Ukraine Crisis to attack or harm the Russian People, they are the ones who are paying the harshest price for the decisions of Vladimir Putin and his government cronies. On the other hand, circumstances have changed and the ever-deviant Putin may lose this battle with the International Community sooner than later for different reasons than expected.
Ironically, the purpose of Western sanctions was to either make it too costly for Putin to continue his support of pro-Russian Ukrainian rebels and their insurgency or to create enough public outrage in order to force Putin from office. Instead of making the decision that was most rational for Russia, Putin decided to politically frame Western intervention as a fight for Russian independence, security, sovereignty, and patriotism in order to bolster support for his government. With polls continuing to show strong support for President Vladimir Putin, it would appear he has been quite successful in his strategy. Whether or not Russians actually believe Putin’s fabricated truths and distorted versions of history, it is clear they support Russia standing up to the will of the West. Looking back at George W. Bush’s polls when he defied the will of the International Community by invading Iraq and throughout the faltering campaign, he was extremely popular in spite of his obvious shortcomings and distorted version of reality. Like Bush, however, Putin will also eventually discover the allure of the maverick wears off when your People get the bill for your party. In recent weeks, a growing string of victories against the Islamic State offers hope that the International Community can actually come together and solve a growing problem. Given the numerous other major crises around the globe and at home, the world really needs to see the governments of the planet Earth accomplish something major for their Peoples.
A year ago, the Islamic State was an Iraqi problem, allowed to propagate like a virus due to a dysfunctional Iraqi government and military. Since the summer of this year, the spread of the highly capable and well-funded terrorist organization has been recognized as a regional and global security threat. Most encouraging is that regional powers are trying to find solutions with support from the West instead of relying on the United States and Europe to lead a full-scale war with minimal support from the Muslim world. This is particularly good news when recognizing the broader and far more significant threats posed by a domineering Russia, which continues to serve as the most prominent example at this time. Taking on a support role in the Middle East, empowers the United States and the rest of the West to help address other regional and local issues around the world that could develop into global crises. Struggling to deal with economic problems, climate change, globalized terrorism and more, the West needs to act wisely and strategically. Should the fall of the Islamic State, however, lead Middle Eastern nations to regress to their old habits of disengagement, there will soon be another threat to replace the Islamic State. Among a stream of Thanksgiving tweets that criticized the United States, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proclaimed the Ferguson protests over the killing of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson demonstrated what is wrong with America.
Although the United States certainly does have a multitude of issues, the Ferguson protests both shine a light on those problems and highlight some of America’s strengths. More importantly, it also demonstrates some universal themes that a growing number of protests around the world share. Looking back at the 2009 Iranian Green Revolution, it is only fair say to Ayatollah Khamenei must consider free speech and a failure to suppress dissent with a brutal, deadly crackdown to be a problem. Where Ferguson police and outside support took a heavy-handed, unresponsive approach when dealing with protesters in Ferguson, the challenges that face protesters in places like Iran are far more frightening. When it comes to the Hong Kong Umbrella Revolution, for example, protesters are increasingly desperate to keep their movement alive, because the Chinese government does not serve the interests of the Hong Kong People or the Chinese Peoples. Unless Umbrella Revolutionaries represent a serious, well-entrenched threat, the Communist Party has no need to respect their demands. More importantly, protesters need to keep their movement strong in order to protect participants who could face anything from financial ruin to threats to their wellbeing; henceforth, the reason they are willing to engage in violent and far disruptive demonstrations. |
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