Lavrov, Erdogan and Afrin: Masterful Perception Management in Action

Lavrov, Erdogan and Afrin: Masterful Perception Management in Action

The curious episode earlier this week of President Erdogan rebuffing Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s request to return Afrin to Damascus’ control was nothing more than a brilliant display of perception management by the Moscow diplomat and confirms his reputation as being one of the most skillful practitioners of this art in history. The Seeds Of…

The Syrian Reality Show

The Syrian Reality Show

Syrian President Basher al-Assad has killed more than half a million of his own countrymen and driven another 10 million from their homes. In alliance with Iran, he plans to shift Syria’s ethnic and religious balance by driving out Sunni Arabs and replacing them with Shi’ite settlers from Lebanon to Pakistan. For all intents and…

Russia’s Friend, Assad Foe, US Ally: Turkey Faces Tough Choices on Syria

Russia’s Friend, Assad Foe, US Ally: Turkey Faces Tough Choices on Syria

Conflicting interests and a realignment of alliances over Syria have left Turkey with tough choices to make as the US looks to confront another nuclear-armed power south of the Turkish border. Officials are adamant Ankara won’t be forced into taking absolute sides as in the Cold War. There is currently no possibility of Turkey allowing…

US to Launch a Sustained Operation in Syria

US to Launch a Sustained Operation in Syria

The events in Syria are likely to escalate into a regional conflict. USS Donald Cook already deployed in the Mediterranean can deliver a limited missile attack against Syria but a large-scale operation is unlikely to be launched until USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group (CSG) arrives in roughly 10-14 days. The CSG left the home base in Norfolk on April 11….

China’s Xi to Trump: ‘Get Off Your High Horse’

China’s Xi to Trump: ‘Get Off Your High Horse’

China’s President Xi Jinping had a message for his US counterpart Donald Trump this week: “Arrogance will get you nowhere.” He added that cooperation and dialogue were the only way forward to resolve disputes in today’s world. Xi was speaking about trade and commerce, but his remarks have wider resonance as the Trump administration high-handedly…