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Author Advocates US-Iranian Alliance

   Henry Ridgwell | London 13 January 2011
   Israeli  Prime  Minister  Benjamin  Netanyahu  delivers a statement to
   members of the foreign press in Jerusalem insisting that Iran will not
   stop  its  nuclear program unless economic sanctions are backed with a
   'credible military option,' Jan. 11, 2011

Photo: AP

   Israeli  Prime  Minister  Benjamin  Netanyahu  delivers a statement to
   members of the foreign press in Jerusalem insisting that Iran will not
   stop  its  nuclear program unless economic sanctions are backed with a
   'credible military option,' Jan. 11, 2011

   With  the ongoing war in Afghanistan and a diplomatic tussle with Iran
   over  its  nuclear  program, the Middle East remains at the top of the
   U.S.  foreign  policy  agenda. A new book claims America is making the
   wrong  friends  in  the region - and calls for a radical rethinking of
   policy towards the Middle East.

   In  his  new book Reset the Middle East, former New York Times foreign
   correspondent  Stephen  Kinzer  argues  for  a bold realignment of the
   Westâs links in the region.
   In  a  speech  at London analyst group Chatham House, Kinzer explained
   his reasoning.

   âWe  are  following policies that were made to address the Cold War in
   the  Middle  East,"  said  Kinzer.  "The  strategic environment in the
   Middle East has changed tremendously since then, but our policies have
   not changed.â

   Kinzerâs  central premise is that the U.S. is making the wrong friends
   -  and  the  wrong  enemies  in  the Middle East. He said two criteria
   should  determine  who should be Americaâs allies: the characteristics
   of  the  society,  and  the  countryâs long-term strategic goals. With
   those in mind, he said Turkey stands out as a natural partner.

   âTurkey has this vibrant capitalist economy," said Kinzer. "A thriving
   democracy  -  not without problems, but certainly in a relative sense,
   quite an attractive one. And in addition, Turkeyâs long term strategic
   goals parallel ours.â

   But  it  is  Kinzerâs  assessment  of  Iran  that  will cause the most
   surprise.  Tehran  and  the  West are currently locked in a diplomatic
   fight  over  Iranâs nuclear program. Kinzer said ignore the rhetoric -
   the Iranians should be Americaâs closest allies.

   âIran  is  the  militant  enemy  of  militant  radical groups like the
   Taliban and al Qaida," said Kinzer. "Secondly, Iran has a huge ability
   to  help  stabilize  Iraq. Iran also has tremendous ability to project
   influence  in  Afghanistan,  which  is  the  huge  strategic challenge
   certainly facing the United States and Iâd argue also the whole West.â

   Rosemary  Hollis,  an  expert  on  the  Middle East at City University
   London,  was among the audience listening to Kinzerâs speech. She said
   he  failed to address the central source of tension in the Middle East
   - the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

   âHe  thought  the  most  productive line for the United States to take
   would be to completely restructure the relationship with Iran and hope
   that  that  would change other things in the region," said Hollis. "He
   has  some  big ideas, they are useful to get people thinking, but itâs
   not a blueprint for how to proceed.â

   With  the  Israeli-Palestinian  peace  process  seemingly  deadlocked,
   Kinzerâs  book  will certainly provoke debate over how the West should
   engage  with  the Middle East - and what the future might hold for the
   region.
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   and discuss them on our [2]Facebook page.

References

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