Turkey and Iran: Mortal Enemies with Visiting Privileges

Turkey and Iran have a very complex relationship. Sharing a long boundary together, these two nations have different languages, different histories and in some ways, different approaches to Islam. Iran, having gone through the Islamic Revolution in the early 1980's became an Islamic Republic with roots firmly grounded in Shi'a Islamic interpretations and a history that goes back to the glorious days of 490-480 BC (!) when Persia conquered lands all the way to Greece.

Turkey, a republic that is struggling to find its way into 20th century forms of European-style democracy has (faint) aspirations of joining the European Union. Turkey needs the natural gas Iran can send to it. Iran needs the currency Turkey can pay.

Both nations are faced with Kurds, Turkey's Kurds having being in a low-grade "civil tension" for 25 years, with more than 40,000 who have died. Iran faces a similar situation, with Kurdish tensions. 

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Do "Lebanon", "Iraq" and "Syria" still exist?

The Mountains of Lebanon

Are these nations in the Middle East changing to the degree that one could say, "They may not even be countries / states any more"?

This writer posses a very provocative question.
"What is a viable state?"

"This war has a number of fronts, some more intense and active than others, but it is everywhere defined by sectarian conflict, especially the divide between Sunni and Shia Muslims. It is most intense in the area encompassing the current states of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon; but has also spread further afield—to Bahrain, northern Yemen, and to some degree Kuwait and eastern Saudi Arabia."

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The Cedar trees of Lebanon

A related article is found here speaking of a new Sunni Insurgency in Iraq.



Jihadis - Holding a Double Edged Sword

What are the consequences of a jihadi philosophy to the various interest groups in the Middle East?

Raymond Ibrahim points out that once the genie is out of the box it cannot be put back in again.

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The American Jewish "Fairness Trap" in Light of Hardened Attitudes in Israel

Jews are wrong if they do it an

d wrong if they don't do it!

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This is especially interesting in views of the news from Israel, the West Bank and the White House this week.

The events surrounding the apparent collapse of negotiations between Israel and the West Bank are very important signposts for the future.

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What Four countries are at the top of Religious Persecution?

If you guessed North Korea and Afghanistan as two of the top four, that's correct. Graphic images on the internet by human rights observers are too upsetting for me to post, or pass along to others.

What are the other two nations responsible for more deaths than any others in 2013?

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What can you do about it?

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