Middle East policy of the United States has changed radically since the beginning of 2013. It has ended the Great Middle East Project and suspended supporting for the Muslim Brotherhood in the Islamic world.
Saudi Arabia was alarmed when the United State started rapprochement with Iran and changed its Syrian policy. Saudi Intelligence Organization (Al Muhabarat Al Amma) which is managed by Bandar bin Sultan also took an active role in the Middle East. Saudis purchased portable strategic weapons from different countries of the world and began giving it to the Syrian opposition and pro- Al Qaeda groups.
Meanwhile, The Turkish Government caused Northern Syria’s becoming a new regional base of the PKK as a result of the Peace Process policy. As soon as it saw that it was a big mistake, It chose to support Islamist Al Nusra group against the separatist Kurdish groups.
These Islamist groups which is supported by both Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries as well as Turkey became one of the effective strength of Syria in a short time. At this time, in the beginning Al Qaeda groups were with the name of the Islamic State of Iraq, but then they took the name of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and began to fight to establish an Islamic State in both countries. Fighting of ISIL against both the Assad regime and the Shiite Iraqi Government which is pro Iran was compatible with the interests of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries. ISIL did not take into account the warnings of Al Qaeda Leader Ayman Al Zawahiri who is in cooperation with Russia Intelligence Service.
The shoe is on the other foot in the Middle East. While the United States was provading weapons to Iraqi Government to use against Al Qaeda, Saudis began to provide weapons to Al Qaeda groups to fight against Shiites. Iran and Iraq Management always stood away from hostility and conflict between Sunnis and Shiites. Even the Iran tried to hold talks with Saudis on this issue. Iraqi Government withdrew its troops to recude the tension in Ramadi and Fallujah in the west of Baghdad. However, this situation led to domination of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants in these two cities.
Saudis purchased anti-tank missiles from Croatia for using against Syrian tanks and supplied the Syrian opposition. Recently, the secret weapon agreements appeared between Saudis and Israel. A matter of common knowledge was that Israel was gaining advantage from the Sunni-Shiite conflicts in the region. Petro Dollars rich Saudis also were not cut off the weapons purchases from the United States. They know very well that to purchase weapons from the U.S. is also to get the good relationship.
Egypt said that Ansar Bayt Al Maqdis, which particularly was organized in the Sinai and started bombing in Cairo, recently collaborated with Muslim Brotherhood. Both organizations were also declared as terrorist groups.
In short, currently there is a complete shambles in the Middle East. Although the U.S. is supporting Shiite Management against Al Qaeda in Iraq, It is supporting Sunni Management together with Saudis against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Mercenary Sahwa militias which was established by the U.S. is fighting against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The U. S. began talks with Syrian Islamic Front which was reached a stronger position than Free Syrian Army among Syrian oppositionists. Syrian Islamic Front has decided to fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
However, a condition that is very clear now that the primary targets are Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East. Three weeks ago, Former CIA Director Hayden has expressed this same truth: “There are three options in Syria. The first option is the conflict of radical Sunni and Shiite groups. The Second option is dividing of Syria same as 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement. And the third option is Assad win. Assad win is the best option for us.”
The meaning of Assad’s winning in Syria is losing of the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda in the region. How this will affect Turkiye, you guess…
