The most important geopolitical difference between now and then, though, is the collapse of authority in Syria and Iraq. In the 1990’s Saddam still ruled Arab Iraq, not well or civilly, but he controlled it. Likewise for his fellow Ba’thist Hafez al-Assad in Syria. They suppressed local opponents and kept a tight lid on their domestic politics, making it impossible for foreigners to successfully meddle in their domestic politics. The American invasion of 2003 took the lid off Iraqi politics, allowing Iran (most successfully), Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other regional parties to play into Iraqi politics. They did not have to force themselves onto the scene. Local Iraqi parties, fighting for dominance in the new Iraq, invited foreign support. The same is now happening in Syria. Once players in the regional game, both Iraq and Syria are now playing fields. brookings.edu/blogs/iran-at-saban/posts/2013/07/08-iran-saudi-middle-east-cold-war?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=BrookingsFB0708&utm_content=BrookingsFB0708
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 05:27:20 +0000
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