Don't get too cozy.
An excerpt from, "Syrian Kurdish Leader Discusses Son's Killing by Jihadists" by Amberin Zaman, Al Monitor, October 21:
Taraf: In our previous conversation, you suggested that Turkey’s policy might change after militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) seized the town of Azaz and the border crossing opposite [the Turkish town of] Kilis. The Turkish military said several days ago they had opened fire on ISIS positions. Do you believe that Turkey’s support for those groups could be continuing, given these circumstances?An excerpt from, "After Rejecting Security Council, What's Next for Saudi Arabia?" by Khaled al-Dakhil, Al Monitor, October 20:
Muslim: I think it continues. To me, [recent developments] appear to be mostly a sham fight.
Taraf: The Free Syrian Army, Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS are all different groups. Which one killed your son?
Muslim: It was ISIS. But for me, they are all the same. In our region at least, all those groups are intertwined.
Taraf: Do you have any fresh evidence that Turkey continues to help radical groups?
Muslim: I have to investigate. When I know, you’ll be the first person I call.
The last question suggests that the Saudi decision is not solely aimed at the Security Council, but also at Washington. It seems that it is a significant step in protest against the changes that have occurred in US policy toward the region. This policy has taken a turn that does not suit the interests of its allies, especially Saudi Arabia, and their political considerations in the region.Supporting al-Qaeda = not a winning formula.
It seems that the main ignition for the protest by Riyadh was the stance of the US President Barack Obama's administration in regard to the Syrian crisis and the reduction of this crisis to the issue of Syria’s chemical weapons. Washington thus ignored the crisis’ other dimensions — threats to the Levant and Arabian Peninsula — and the effects of this on Saudi interests. In this context, the Obama administration's interest in the Syrian crisis or the Levant stems from one angle: the security of Israel. This is why the US was content with Syria handing over its chemical weapons.
The reliance upon al-Qaeda by Turkey and Saudi Arabia is a weak point in their foreign policy. When you enlist flesh-eating terrorists to do your dirty work in the region you've already lost.
The governments of Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia need to learn a painful lesson in proper international etiquette. Backing Jihadist terrorism against religious and ethnic minorities in Syria will backfire against these tyrannical governments in a very severe way. America won't always be there to hold their hands and walk them through the death traps that await them.
