Graham Fuller’s Five Middle East Predictions for 2015
Only a fool offers longer term predictions about the Middle East. I offer the following longer terms predictions about the Middle East for 2015.
Syria
US Fight Against Islamic State: Long Haul Ahead
by Wayne White As 2014 draws to a close, there is no shortage of alternative suggestions about how to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS or IS). Most of them involve US escalation, driven by exaggerated notions of IS capabilities. Retaking… Continue Reading
Erdogan vs. Gulen
by Umar Farooq For more than thirteen years, Turkey has made a slow but steady transition towards a free and democratic society, despite the occasional pang of apprehension among some about where that road might lead. The men at the helm… Continue Reading
Obama’s Interesting Fourth Quarter
by Paul R. Pillar “My presidency is entering the fourth quarter. Interesting stuff happens in the fourth quarter, and I’m looking forward to it.” — Barack Obama, December 19, 2014 One should be careful about drawing conclusions concerning the intentions… Continue Reading
Will Putin Lash Out?
by Mark N. Katz What a difference a few months make. During much of 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin was riding high. Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine quickly and relatively bloodlessly. Putin was also able to help pro-Russian forces in… Continue Reading