A few months ago the mainstream media was all alarmed about events in Syria. Of course President Obama gave his infamous “red line” declaration regarding which, in typical Obama fashion, he did nothing.
The silence on Syria should cause us all concern and Ryan Mauro of the Clarion Project explains why in a meticulous analysis.
In the absence of any credible American influence in the region, there is a new axis of evil forming in the Middle East: an Islamist super bloc. President Obama invited Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House and spoke of the great alliance and friendship between the two. Interestingly enough it is Turkey that is wholeheartedly allied with the Muslim Brotherhood and has become a central hub for their operations. In addition, the two are joined together in the fight against Syria’s President Assad.
However, it now seems the prolonged conflict in Syria is draining their resources and a resolution is being sought. The Islamist forces realize that Assad had two powerful sponsors in Russia and Iran. The resolution seems to be a pact between Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran and Hezbollah, with Hamas, as a Sunni terrorist organization, joining on the side of the former.
Hamas already has relations established with Turkey. Those left out in the cold from this axis are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Gulf States, representing the old guard. An Ottoman-Persian axis would create a huge territorial bloc, aided by Obama’s withdrawal from Iraq.
We already have knowledge that Egypt is entering into talks with Russia, which includes military support and Egypt offering a naval base of operations to Russia. Further, there has been some outreach to China by the Arab old-guard states.
President Obama has proven unreliable and has played a dangerous game of placating the Muslim Brotherhood, and is now trying to cozy up with Iran — both to the disdain of our previous allies in the region.
Furthermore, the biggest loser in this whole restructuring in the Middle East is Israel, knowing that this Islamist axis will focus its immediate angst on Israel as a rallying point. Right along with Israel, the Kurds will find themselves in a double envelopment between Turkey and Iran. And we all know Christians residing within the boundaries of this new Islamic caliphate will face immeasurable persecution, beyond comprehension.
King Abdullah of Jordan will also find himself in a very precarious position. Should Jordan stay allied with Israel and the absent US or succumb to the new axis?
Remember it was Obama who stated the US would pivot away from the Middle East and focus on the Pacific – but China doesn’t seem too concerned.
It was President Obama’s 2009 speeches in Turkey and Cairo that set the stage for this new Islamic totalitarian resurgence. Of course the Obama acolytes and apologists will dismiss this assessment, but this has not happened by accident.
President Obama has clearly displayed an affinity for the Islamists. I don’t care about the narrow focus of drone attacks against isolated Al Qaeda targets. I also believe Obama’s hand was forced to execute the US Navy SEAL raid to eliminate Osama Bin Laden because it fit a political narrative.
Strategically, Obama has enabled the spread of the Islamists due to his lack of any vision and feckless nature — and having a Secretary of State like John Kerry who smells of weakness is even more enticing. Our military readiness is being sacrificed for social egalitarian experiments, repeal of DADT and women in combat units. I can summarize this only one way: FUBAR!