Syria War, Sochi Peace

Syria War, Sochi Peace

The main take away of the trilateral, two hour-long Russia-Iran-Turkey summit in Sochi on the future of Syria was expressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin: “The presidents of Iran and Turkey supported the initiative to convene an All-Syrian Congress for national dialogue in Syria. We agreed to hold this important event at the proper level…

Chabahar and Gwadar Agreements and Rivalry Among Competitors in Baluchistan Region

Chabahar and Gwadar Agreements and Rivalry Among Competitors in Baluchistan Region

INTRODUCTION The Chabahar Agreement signed between the Indian Prime Minister Modi and Iranian President Rouhani in May of this year will enable India to develop the Chabahar Port in Iranian Baluchistan as a major economic and strategic corridor linking India to Afghanistan and Central Asian markets. The Agreement is seen as India’s strategic response to…

US Decision to Stay In Syria After Defeat of ISIS Will Unite Russia, Iran and Turkey Against It

US Decision to Stay In Syria After Defeat of ISIS Will Unite Russia, Iran and Turkey Against It

Following the meeting of Russia, Iran, and Turkey in Sochi, where the end of the war was announced and the beginning of the post-war regulation process meant to decide Syria’s future took place, the US media began reporting on the fact that the US plans to stay in Syria despite the collapse of ISIS, and…

And Then the Clown Prince Told Friedman: “Suck On This.”

And Then the Clown Prince Told Friedman: “Suck On This.”

The Moustache of Understanding, Thomas Friedman, has written the probably most embarrassing fanfiction ever: The most significant reform process underway anywhere in the Middle East today is in Saudi Arabia. Yes, you read that right. Though I came here at the start of Saudi winter, I found the country going through its own Arab Spring,…

Demise of the Petrodollar has the Potential to Reshape the Geopolitical World

Demise of the Petrodollar has the Potential to Reshape the Geopolitical World

In the early 1970s President Richard Nixon instigated two changes that had profound effects. The first of these was taking United States off the gold standard; i.e. henceforth US dollars would no longer be convertible to Gold. Ordinarily this might have been expected to have significant ramifications for the value of the US dollar. Deleterious…

Lebanon in the Crosshairs

Lebanon in the Crosshairs

If the United States climbs into bed with the Israelis and Saudis and commits to take down Iran it will wind up having to do the hard fighting in a war that could be unwinnable in any conventional sense. There has been much discussion surrounding the travel of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri to Saudi…