The Washington Post published an article by David Ignatius, headlined “Obama weighs talking to the Taliban, Hezbollah”. In this article the journalist expresses the opinion that the USA has to start talks with its major adversaries, such as Hezbollah and the Taliban. According to him, the USA needs a mediator to start such talks. “In a rapidly changing Islamic world, the Obama administration is weighing how best to talk with adversaries such as the Taliban and, perhaps, Hezbollah,” the author writes. Ignatius believes that Saudi Arabia, and more likely Turkey, could serve as such mediator.
The New York Times published an article entitled “Interests of Saudi Arabia and Iran Collide, With the U.S. in the Middle”. According to the author, the brutal crackdown in Bahrain poses the greatest Middle East democracy dilemma yet to the Obama administration, deepening a rift with its most important Arab ally, Saudi Arabia, while potentially strengthening the influence of its biggest nemesis, Iran. The author underlines that US-Saudi relations are now as cold as never before. Saudi officials are angry that the US administration abandoned Hosni Mubarak and the USA is against the Saudi invasion in Bahrain. Such a situation may be used by Iran, which wishes to become the most influential country of the region, the author believes.
The same topic is discussed in an article headlined “Analysis: Iran seeks dividends from the regional chaos”, published by The Jerusalem Post. According to the author, Iran is doing its best to use the current crisis in the region to increase its influence on neighbouring states. The author worries that Gaza may soon be controlled by Hezbollah and that Sinai may become a springboard for an attack on Israel. He also expresses deep concern about the situation in Bahrain, where the Shiite population may call on Iran to support the uprising in the country.
The Guardian published an article devoted to the multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis that is spreading at the moment in Europe. Sarah Bosiley, the author of the article, specifies countries where the number of sick people is extremely high. Among them are several post-Soviet republics such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and the Russian Federation. According to the author, these countries need exclusive TB control.
Turkey’s Hurriyet published an article headlined “Erdoğan turns on the West”. The author admits that Turkish officials, including Prime Minister Erdoğan, have started to make accusations against western countries and their allies. The author also underlines that in Turkish society there are two main tendencies, pro-western secular and anti-western Islamic. He underlines that the majority of Turks don’t really like the West.
