Epstein Secrets

y over defense policy in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The co-author of a well-received book on U.S. foreign policy during the 1990s, he and Samantha Power recently edited a volume of writings by and about one of their mentors, the late Richard Holbrooke. Chollet would seem to be a good fit for a presi

have played a key role in the president's decision to intervene in Libya last year. A staunch champion of the "responsibility-to-protect" doctrine, Power is also a Richard Holbrooke protege: She spoke at the late diplomat's memorial service and co-edited a 2011 book of essays by and about him. Having

absence — which is why Ankara might have the biggest share when reaping the fruits of the Arab spring, from Iraq where Turkish presence is wide in Kurdistan, to Syria via the opposition forces, Lebanon in the future and Tunisia, not to mention Turkish presence in Central Asia and the Balkans. Moreover,

n an entrenched and deep-rooted security system. Power in the country was being redefined. United, the p

Iran not only exerts considerable influence over Iraq's prime minister, Noun al-Maliki, and his government, but it also has good relations with the Kurdistan's ruling clans, especially the Talibani family, and many Shia factions based in central and southern Iraq. Secondly, illicit trade with Iran brings

rmed Forces [SCAF] to an elected civil authority. Power, at the end of the day, is nothing more than a s

ionally been concentrated in regions in the south. There would also be a strong temptation on the part of the country's Kurds to carve out a Syrian Kurdistan in the northeast. And unlike in Libya, where any negative consequences from the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi could be minimized in terms of the imp

med Forces [SCAF] to an elected civil authority. Power, at the end of the day, is nothing more than a s

ons in the EFTA_R1_00228282 EFTA01841746 south. There would also be a strong temptation on the part of the country's Kurds to carve out a Syrian Kurdistan in the northeast. And unlike in Libya, where any negative consequences from the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi could be minimized in terms of the im

public refused to abide the generals' meddling. Power had successfully shifted away from Kemalist elit

viously done. President Barzani has frequently referred to such a cut as "an act of war," and on May 14 he warned that "those who cut the budget of Kurdistan are going to pay the price of that decision." Regardless of the rights and wrongs of the federal and KRG positions, these are among the worst poss

longed peace allows inertia and decay to set in. Power is already more diffuse than it ever has been. A

that they would be treated with dignity and fairness as partners in governing the country. Second, relations between the central government and the Kurdistan region also deteriorated to the extent that Kurdish leaders became convinced that Iraq's federal structure had failed because the Maliki government