Russian and Turkish balancing acts with Iran and Arabs

November 11, 9:29 AMNY Israel Conflict ExaminerRichard Shulman

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A.P. photo/ Henry Ray Abrams -- Turkish PM Erdogan

Having tilted away from Europe and Israel and toward Iran and the Arabs, Turkey may find itself irking the Arabs who worry about Iranian imperial ambition.  Welcome to the world of national balancing acts!

Russia has been helping Iran build a nuclear plant and hampering stiff sanctions against Iran for moving its nuclear development in a military direction.  Russia also, however, has been delaying delivery of a defense system for the plant. 

As a result, Iran threatens its relationship with Russia and Russia threatens to support stiffer sanctions against Iran.  Russia is in a balancing act  (www.imra.org.il, 11/9).

If governments would recognize and renounce evil, they would escape such problems.  Unfortunately, idealism is diminishing though not hypocritical pretense at having it.

Russia may be holding off support for Iran only temporarily, seeking concessions from the West for doing so.  It also is concerned about offending foreign Muslims lest they support domestic Muslims rebels.  I think that jihad has regained its fervor, so that Russia cannot appease it away. 

For a bit about Turkey, click here 

For a bit on Russia, click here