Over the longer term, on the other hand, hostility between Iran and Turkey is vitually inevitable. The Iranians see themselves as the regional hegemon. Persian imperialism is part and parcel of their Islamism. Similarly the Turks see themselves as regional hegemon-in-becoming. They look to recover the old Ottoman hegemony, even if not direct rule over the various Arab states. Plus, Turks and Persia have a centuries old tradition of hostility. And radical Sunni Islamists are not known for their toleance for Shi’a. If those two states ever got their wish and thrust the USA out of the region, and especially if they ever managed to destroy Israel, there would be a regional war that would be absolutely devastating. It would make the Iraq-Iran War of the 80s seem small potatoes by comparison.

Any reference to Bashar Assad must include at least one use of the term “Dorktator.”

I believe Meryl coined it, and is quite insistent on its use.

J.