Look Who Wants to lead the Middle East!

By Barry Rubin

In the absence of U.S. leadership, others want to direct the Middle East. The battle is becoming a competition of radicals as to who is going to run the region. That’s what happened in the 1950s and 1960s and it isn’t good. Then, the competition was between Egypt, Syria, and Iraq. Today, the contestants are Turkey, Iran, and a radical Egypt, with Iraq and Syria sidelined due to internal issues. Meanwhile, the Saudis have been forced to take over leadership of the remaining moderate Arab states (the Gulf sheikdoms, plus Morocco and Jordan) since they can no longer depend on America for protection.

The article discusses the new contestants for leadership, responding to the United States sidelining itself or even coming out on the side of the radicals.

Read more