SO, WHAT IS TURKEY AND THE WEST UP TO? - OTHER THAN MACHIAVELLIANISM AT ITS MOST RUTHLESS?

President Tayyip Erdogan and his Government, even after the attempted coup, remain very enigmatic. They are clearly up to something grand, but probably only few people really know what it is. With Turkey straddling the divide between East and West, between Islam and Christendom, and between Islamism and secularism, it is very likely that Erdogan's Turkey is aspiring to reclaim some of the influence and power it, as part of the Ottoman Empire, wielded in decades and centuries past know


What is clear is that Erdogan's Turkey cannot achieve the objectives of its grand plan, without trying to get some key regional and international forces to play their roles. In order to bring this about, Erdogan considers it to be worth it for him to eat humble pies to appease his enemies, real and potential. Thus he has taken significant steps to re-establish tactical and strategic alliances of expediency with countries such as Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Erdogan and his Prime Minister are also showing more pragmatism towards President Assad in Syria, although still talking tough; probably to appease Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

To me, it seems that Erdogan's Turkey is behaving somewhat like Israel; throwing its weight around the region with little regard to whom it hurts in the process, as long as Erdogan is able to get his way. Following the crass shooting down of a Russian jet, which resulted in the killing of the pilots, Erdogan remained defiant, until the Russians hit back with economic sanctions and other measures. Following Erdogan's belated apologies to the Russians and plea for forgiveness, he, having apparently successfully defeated the coup against him, has now returned to his wayward behaviour. 

He is back to making trouble for the Syrians; probably making pragmatic overtures, while he continue to scheme to achieve his geopolitical objectives in the region. There was some talk about Erdogan intending to use factions from the 'Free Syrian Army' as proxies to counter the Kurds, including the Syrian Kurds, and roll back their successes. Something which he has now done, with the active support of the Americans. Who, just like how they felt they had to give the Saudis Yemen, to appease them over the Iran nuclear agreement, feel that they have to back Erdogan's 'Syrian adventure', even at the cost of sacrificing their Kurd allies.

It was not very long ago that Turkey was believed to be assisting Daesh and like-minded protagonists in Syria. Now, he has turned his back on them, as he sets about helping to destroy them, while courting members of the socalled Free Syrian Army, which he wants to set up in 'safe areas in Syria', as proxies to help Turkey, the USA, Saudi Arabia and her allies, and Britain, to install a government in Syria, which is prepared to do their bidding.

What is happening in Syria, Turkey and the Middle East, in general, provides ample evidence of the machiavellian  politics which seems to be the norm in international relations at present. 

Alliances are made and unmake with no pretence to morality or honesty. The minor or less powerful players are at the mercy of the big powers. Thus we have the USA aligning itself with the Kurds and other Iraqi forces to take Kobani, in Iraq, before moving onto laying siege to Mosul. Similarly, it aligns itself with the Syrian Kurds to take Manbij, but being just as willing to betray them to appease Turkey, which is still at war with them. 

Similarly, we have Russia having somewhat of rapprochement with Erdogan, which has now allowed Turkey, with America's backing, to temporary invade norther Syria. I say temporary, because, as I have said before, these alliances are transient, because, many of the parties are not really friends or allies; they are only tactical and strategic allies. The 'Free Syrian Army' - which is really 'The Turkish, American, British and French Sepoys' - should expect to feel the wrath of the Russians and Syrian Government forces sooner, rather than later, as the latter would pay dearly for allowing the former to successfully set up 'a bridgehead' in Syria.'

It will probably not be long before the Syrian and Russian forces will have to attack Jarablus, to prevent it becoming a Turkish/American garrison town. At the same time, it is not clear why Russia has 'let Erdogan of the hook', thereby allowing him the freedom to invade Syria; Russia's ally. One can only suppose that it might have something to do with Russia's economic problems, her desire to form an effective Russian/US coalition in Syria to fight Daesh, and the EU sanctions against Russia.

Turkey and the Americans are not friends; they probably have little in common. Just as how the European Union countries and Turkey are not friends and have not a great deal in common; at least, Erdogan's Turkey. Similarly, the Kurds, whether they are in Iraq, Syria or Turkey, or Iran, are not seen by the Americans as friends or allies; they are only prospective proxies, a kind of 'native sepoy' to be used to achieve America's geo-political objectives, where it is convenient to use them to that end.

With all this perfidy taking place, it is not surprising the Syrian Kurds in Hasaka and the Syrian government have, reputedly, agreed a ceasefire. The Syrian Government, confronted with Daesh and the other opposition forces, and with Turkey and the US and others planning to help to overthrow it - even when Erdogan has just avoided being overthrown by his own armed forces - probably needs to ensure greater success in nurturing the support of the Syrian Kurds.