Tag Archives: Obama

74th UNGA: A Sad Day for Democracy

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Ali Tuygan

September 26, 2019 What attracts global attention at UNGA’s annual plenary sessions is the first week of general debate since it serves as a top forum for leaders to address the world. Tuesday, September 24 was the first day of … Continue reading →

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Syria: Moment of Truth for the West

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Ali Tuygan

January 11, 2019 Defeating ISIS in Syria and ousting President Assad are no longer compatible. They never were. The West must make a choice. The following questions can help find the answer: Was the Western intervention in Syria about promoting … Continue reading →

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Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from Syria

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

December 22, 2018 President Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria seems to have surprised even shocked many, particularly in Washington. His brief announcement left many questions unanswered. Had he been a consistent leader steering his administration in close … Continue reading →

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The West and the Middle East

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

October 31, 2016 Middle East turmoil has led some analysts to look back and speculate on the Sykes-Picot agreement and whether or not current borders would survive. The very first of President Wilson’s Fourteen Points read: “Open covenants of peace, … Continue reading →

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President Obama and the Middle East (2)

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

August 1, 2016 On July 28, 2016, David Nakamura of the Washington Post reported that President Obama took the stage at the Democratic National Convention at a time when the nation is more starkly polarized than before. The words “starkly … Continue reading →

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Quo Vadis Turkey? (2)

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

July 25, 2016 A year-and-a-half ago I wrote (*): “We Turks need to understand that our success as a nation, especially in the field of foreign policy, depends first and foremost upon our internal peace and stability. The amount of … Continue reading →

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Iraq, Afghanistan, Terrorism and a Word on Turkey

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

July 18, 2016 On July 6, 2016, Mr. Tony Blair responded to the Report of the Iraq Inquiry during a two-hour-long press conference. Answering a question, he said that there was a decision and it was a controversial decision – … Continue reading →

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“Dissent Channel Memo” on Syria

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

June 22, 2016 Fifty-one State Department officials have signed a “dissent channel memo” calling for a “more militarily assertive U.S. role in Syria”. The availability of a “dissent channel” constitutes solid proof of respect for different opinions and their free … Continue reading →

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Orlando: A Collage of Views on the Background

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

June 20, 2016 Phrases like “radical Islam”, “jihadist terror”, “Islamic extremism” and “Islamophobia” have been with us for quite some time. The Orlando massacre must have galvanized the behind closed doors debate on them. And, while some use them openly … Continue reading →

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Ripple Effect of the Syrian Conflict

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

March 25, 2016 In early February scientists announced that they had finally detected gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of space and time that Einstein predicted a century ago. They are only to be congratulated. Their achievement must have … Continue reading →

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