Russia, the U.S., clumsiness and its cost

In my article published last Wednesday on Oct. 7, 2015, I had discussed that the cliché of Russia “wanting to move into warm seas” was an expansionist desire that was reproduced in every period throughout history. The desire to change and democratize against the Great Russian Empire which initiated with Peter the great, has always remained as trials. The 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, the 80s Perestroika and the Glasnost were only interludes.

Even Russia's Communism experience could not impair the power of the race nationalism (Panislavism) of the Russians, or the religion nationalism (Orthodox). Indeed, after the Cold War and the breakup of the USSR, Gorbachev took the decision of transparency; the country adopted Capitalism, democracy was the objective, yet it was all-temporary.

It appears that, Russia has turned to its real self. This is good news for Russian nationalists, yet threatening news for the rest of the world.

Putin has started to make threatening moves against its Western allies, claim global domination, request the playmaker role. The reason Putin is called “Tsar” and Erdoğan “Sultan” at the same time in foreign media is Russia's awakening to a greatness claim and Turkey's step to become a lead player in the region.

On the other hand, the only thing that determined the relationship between the two old friends, the Russian and Ottoman Empires, was always war. Because the lands Russia lusted over were ever under Ottoman rule or were desired by them. It is said that history repeats itself; despite the many projects between the two countries including the Turkish Power Project and the Akkuyu Nuclear Energy project tendered to the Russians, the two old friends are again face to face.

Russia is in Syrian territory and Turkey is not happy with this. Because, while Russia supports a Syria with Assad, Turkey believes that this will only add to the chaos and terrorism in the region. In other words Turkey isn't happy. How about the PKK, Peoples' Democratic Party Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, or the members of the Gülen Movement ho have infiltrated state institutions to establish a parallel state, among us? Or those who hindered Turkey's claim of acting in the region, are they happy? Be sure that they are not.

Russia's extremely bold attitude is interpreted as the advanced stage of the revolutions that happened one after another in the 2000s, ending with the annexation of Crimea, which can also be interpreted as an answer to the U.S. That is to say, under normal circumstances Russia agreeing with Iran and settling in Syria, would have raised concern for the U.S. and the NATO. They actually are concerned.

If Russia and the U.S. haven't shared the region amongst themselves behind closed doors (which is a remote chance); then Russia's existence in Syria conflicts U.S. interests.

Yet, despite this conflict of interest, the U.S. supported the Democratic Union Party (PYD) instead of Turkey, its ally in the region, who put forward sound and ethical suggestions and demands. Besides, this was done at a time when Turkey was battling another terrorist organization. Ultimately, this can be regarded as the clumsiest U.S. policy ever in the Middle East. This policy was an absolute failure which can be described in one sentence; “Everything that was meant to be done wasn't, and everything that should not have been done, was.”

The most important of these points was that the U.S. chose to reconcile with Iran for an emergency necessity which we don't know of, rather than clearing the terror swamp in Syria with its allies and clearing the uncertainty in the region. The U.S. has made peace with Iran and Iran has embraced Russia. When you add Iraq and the Lebanese Hezbollah to this, it seems that the Russian threat in the region will be a greater threat for the U.S. than the Cold War.

If the Obama administration understands this of course...

We are currently reading that Russian jets in Syrian airspace are harassing American jets which have taken off from İncirlik Air Base. Let the U.S. think about the rest.

Turkey on the other hand still has the power to move the pieces of the game in the region. Turkey has the field to plan the next move and play the game, if not with its military, diplomatically, if not through battling, with its intellect.

Let's wait and see what will happen.