Nobody trusts anyone

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Dec 20, 2015 at 08:27

Hi, Anon

Turkey-Israel normalization deal would not affect Turkey's relationship with Hamas, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly tells Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal

I guess that proves your point. Nevertheless, Israel seems to be playing a deep strategic game; and is willing to deal with the unruly Turkish wolf in order to ward off the more dangerous Iranian and Russian bears.

As a NATO member, and now as an enemy of Russia, Turkey is allied, by default, with the US. For the past 7 years, the US has been afflicted with a President who hates Israel, dismisses all advisors who don't agree with him, and has the foreign policy acumen of a three-toed sloth; so Israel's policy toward Washington seems to be to hang in there until some semblance of rationality returns. In other words, he is looking forward to dealing with Obama's successor, whom the oddsmakers say (contrary to Putin's endorsement of Trump) Hillary Clinton. It's not the best scenario in the world, but it's the hand he's been dealt.

Concerning strategic alliances, here's the map I've been able to cobble together LATELY (It changes so much, it's frustrating):

1. The US, with fairly reliable allies Israel, Canada (yes, the country with Mr. Selfie as Prime Minister), the UK, Australia, Philippines, Japan, S. Korea, Singapore, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland, Czech R., and less important countries

2. France, with think-alikes Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. They think alike concerning immigration (mostly), the NORD stream pipeline and other issues, and give the US little more than lip service.

3. Russia, with allies Vietnam, Iran and sort-of Algeria, and hopeless dependancy Syria

4. China, which doesn't need allies, and which washes its hands of the Middle East mess

5. India, likewise with clean hands

6. Saudi Arabia, with so-so allies Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Malaysia, Nigeria and 29 others who look good on paper but are not so hot on the ground.

7. minor players

If you were Israel, who would you go with? It's a jungle out there. The fed lion contentedly sits and watches the wildebeests graze; but nobody trusts anyone very far or very long.

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