Trump's decision to place punishing tariffs on Turkey is having a very unpredictable effect on an already unpredictable and unstable region. The Turks have decided to fight back and strongman Erdogan ( just re-elected) will not back down and will move Turkey closer to its neighbor but long time " threat" Russia. Already overtures have been made and Putin is willing and eager to step in and pull the long time N A T O member and the guardian of its Eastern flank, ( where many U S A military bases are located and from where many U S-led missions to Iraq, Syria etc. were launched), away from Europe and the military alliance.
Turkey as signaled its intention not to cave, by putting its own tariffs on American products and to take a loan of $15 billion from Qatar ( which has had a running economic battle with Saudi Arabia. Trump supports the Saudis in its row with Qatar ( an ally, but I guess the Saudi wealth and oil and the gaudy welcome have won Trump to their side). So here we have a NATO member being flayed economically by the ostensible leader of the alliance, turning for help from Russia and getting economic aid from Qatar ( Trump has weakened NATO and this will not help).
The Saudis continue their genocidal war in Yemen, where they indiscriminately target civilians ( the latest being the busload of young students), with the assistance of US and Britain. Why? Oil and investments from the wealthy Saudis. They have also targeted ( as noted above) Qatar ( even their camel herd were deported) and has picked a fight with Canada over Canada's request the women rights activist Badawi ( her blogger brother is presently imprisoned ).
The Saudis became furious ( they were afraid that others would join Canada and expose their woeful record on human rights). They severed diplomatic relation, asking the Canadian ambassador to leave; placed a hold on all new investments; cancelled all flights by Saudi airline and recalled thousands of students on scholarship in Canada. The Trudeau government has so far stood firm and has not even cancelled the $15 billion arms deal ( that was signed by the previous Harper government). Relations are tense and Canada's longtime allies US and GB have been silent ( I guess Human Rights is not as important as Saudi wealth, so they oppress their people, deny women rights, crucify and display body them openly, carry out a genocidal war and the " democracies" remain silent.
Canada and Turkey are both NATO members but in Trump's world that counts for little ( Trump has also placed punitive tariffs on many Canadian goods/products, even though we have an economic pact, NAFTA.
In the Middle East, Russia rules while US picks fights with Turkey and cancelled the Iranian nuclear agreement ( against the wishes of the other signatories and even though his own officials agree that Iran has not broken the agreement. Syria with the help of Russia and Iran is winding down its civil war ( which has killed thousands and driven tens of thousands into forced exile). Iraq continues to be a battleground and so too Libya and in Yemen the Saudi-led, US -backed coalition continues to decimate the population. Israel launches attacks on Gaza and even in Syria ( recently accused of assassinating a top Syrian scientist and targeting Iranian positions).
The region is a sizzling cauldron and the next eruption is not far off. It will be far ranging
Turkey as signaled its intention not to cave, by putting its own tariffs on American products and to take a loan of $15 billion from Qatar ( which has had a running economic battle with Saudi Arabia. Trump supports the Saudis in its row with Qatar ( an ally, but I guess the Saudi wealth and oil and the gaudy welcome have won Trump to their side). So here we have a NATO member being flayed economically by the ostensible leader of the alliance, turning for help from Russia and getting economic aid from Qatar ( Trump has weakened NATO and this will not help).
The Saudis continue their genocidal war in Yemen, where they indiscriminately target civilians ( the latest being the busload of young students), with the assistance of US and Britain. Why? Oil and investments from the wealthy Saudis. They have also targeted ( as noted above) Qatar ( even their camel herd were deported) and has picked a fight with Canada over Canada's request the women rights activist Badawi ( her blogger brother is presently imprisoned ).
The Saudis became furious ( they were afraid that others would join Canada and expose their woeful record on human rights). They severed diplomatic relation, asking the Canadian ambassador to leave; placed a hold on all new investments; cancelled all flights by Saudi airline and recalled thousands of students on scholarship in Canada. The Trudeau government has so far stood firm and has not even cancelled the $15 billion arms deal ( that was signed by the previous Harper government). Relations are tense and Canada's longtime allies US and GB have been silent ( I guess Human Rights is not as important as Saudi wealth, so they oppress their people, deny women rights, crucify and display body them openly, carry out a genocidal war and the " democracies" remain silent.
Canada and Turkey are both NATO members but in Trump's world that counts for little ( Trump has also placed punitive tariffs on many Canadian goods/products, even though we have an economic pact, NAFTA.
In the Middle East, Russia rules while US picks fights with Turkey and cancelled the Iranian nuclear agreement ( against the wishes of the other signatories and even though his own officials agree that Iran has not broken the agreement. Syria with the help of Russia and Iran is winding down its civil war ( which has killed thousands and driven tens of thousands into forced exile). Iraq continues to be a battleground and so too Libya and in Yemen the Saudi-led, US -backed coalition continues to decimate the population. Israel launches attacks on Gaza and even in Syria ( recently accused of assassinating a top Syrian scientist and targeting Iranian positions).
The region is a sizzling cauldron and the next eruption is not far off. It will be far ranging
