Ankara promotes an alliance between Barzani and Iraqi Sunni leadership with a view to challenging Maliki’s leadership in Baghdad. Ankara is playing on Barzani’s political ambitions as the supremo of Kurdistan, the autonomous Kurdish entity with Arbil as its capital in northern Iraq. At a press conference in Istanbul after meeting Hashemi, Barzani accused Maliki of harboring dictatorial ambitions. The very same regional axis of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar that is working for “regime change” in Syria is also on a confrontation path with Maliki - and the leitmotif is once again isolating Iran in its region.

(Dr. Benny Peiser)