Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets supporters during a ceremony in Istanbul, June 19, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer
Kamal Alam, National Interest: The Turkish Trap: How Erdogan Made New Enemies and Enraged the Arab Community
As Recep Erdogan sends Turkish troops and Syrian rebel fighters into Libya, it has become clear that the Syrian forces Turkey-backed were never meant to fight for Assad but instead do Turkey's bidding.
As the Syrian military backed by the Russian air force takes another strategic town in Idlib, thereby inching closer towards the Turkish border, the endgame for Turkey in Syria has begun. The Syrian government has also taken the key highway that links Damascus to Aleppo and secured Aleppo from the incoming Turkish backed rebel artillery. Diplomatically the first acknowledged meeting between the Turkish and Syrian intelligence chiefs in Moscow just over a week ago heralded the final act in Erdogan’s quest to knock over President Bashar al-Assad. Not only has he failed in dislodging Assad, but he has also failed to convince the Russians to see the Turkish perspective.
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 18, 2020
Is Turkey planning to curb radicals in Idlib under strategy shift? -- Fehim Tastekin, Al-Monitor
Aging Shiite cleric a powerhouse in Iraq. What comes after? -- Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Mariam Fam, AP
It's not too late for Lebanon: A view from the ground -- Sasha Toperich and John Craig, The Hill
How coronavirus turned the Diamond Princess cruise into a floating quarantine facility -- ABC News Online
How China, Singapore differ in battling Covid-19 -- Joseph Nathan, Asia Times
Global Impact: China’s 1989 vs. Hong Kong’s 2019 -- Jeffrey Wasserstrom, RCW
Is Political Change Coming to China? -- Yuen Yuen Ang, Project Syndicate
Can the EU's new arms-embargo mission to Libya be effective? -- Barbara Wesel, DW
Libya’s rival factions dig in for long conflict -- Middle East Monitor
Is the US heading to the front lines of European defence? -- John Psaropoulos, Al Jazeera
Can US export controls on chips stop Huawei? -- David P. Goldman, Asia Times
So, can hackers take over a satellite? -- William Akoto, Navy Times
