Assad is seeking to minimize the diplomatic fallout from Syria's new relationship with Iraq. The Bush administration, in a policy shift for the United States, is moving away from efforts focused on mediating a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Washington is now trying to contain the conflict in an effort to prevent a regional war. Failing Economy Destroys Turkey's Pipeline Dreams With the Turkish economy declining, several natural-gas pipeline projects with Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iran and Turkmenistan face postponement or cancellation. As a result, the economies of both Turkey and Western European nations will be forced to rely on Russian sources.
Sentiment builds to send peacekeepers to the West Bank and Gaza.
Russia reasserts its claims to the Caucasus, over Washington's opposition. Intentionally or not, the United States is stepping into the shoes of an old empire. Since last November the Israeli government has used targeted assassinations to address the Palestinian uprising. To date, at least 40 Palestinian operatives have been apprehended or killed. But Israel's policy may be moving too slowly to preclude an invasion.