TURAN's Washington DC correspondent interviewed Thomas Sorlie, American public lecturer and writer, who spent twenty years closely researching Islam, Caucasus, Middle East and international affairs. Being an analyst on Islamic theological/political developments in the modern era, he mainly focuses on Turkey and the surrounding regions, as well as the Arab Spring events in the MENA countries.
Q. What is your take on the Boston events that unfolded rapidly last month? Especially, how will these developments change the attitude towards Caucasus/Islam among Americans?
A. The reckless attacks on Boston will only serve to fuel the paranoia that many Americans have felt since the 9/11. Cultures have a tendency to look other cultures as "groups," regardless of the nuanced and diverse history of all cultures.
The reaction on the "street" for many America has been to unfortunately blame Muslims for this attack. Fortunately, there is a significant portion of the American populace who refuse to label these attackers as Muslims, instead, they are recognizing that the individuals who perpetrated the attack where misguided in their beliefs.
Q. On Arab Spring, what are the main challenges in front of the US/Turkish/Russian diplomacy in Syria and the surrounding region ahead?
A. Turkey and the United States are on similar footing when it comes to Syria. The concern here in respect to US/Turkish/Syrian/Russian relations is, in fact, if this civil war goes regional or even, worse yet, international. What side would everyone come in on (re: The West/Russia/Iran). There is no clear answer here. Specifically, from my perspective, many analysts in the West who focus on Turkey are blinded by Kemalism in their analysis...
Q. For many Washington analysts, Iran is also going to dominate on the US foreign policy agenda ahead, as the clock is still ticking on Iran's movement toward becoming a nuclear power: What are "red lights" for Washington and its allies to watch for in the region surrounding Iran before the situation worsens?
A. After this week's event concerning Syria's possible use of chemical weapons, I am not sure where the red line is vis-a-vis Iran.
The US administration drew a "red line" for the use of chemical weapons, which apparently may have been crossed, and yet the administration has taken no steps to change their strategy in Syria.
This clouds the perspective of how the U.S. administration will react to Iran approaching possible nuclear material that could be used in a nuclear weapon.
Q. Now, in a few weeks after President Obama's hand in the historic rapprochement between Israel and Turkey, hope for peace in the wider Black Sea and Caucasus regions has also increased: Is there anything that Washington can do to change the status-quo in this particular region?
A. I'm not sure how much influence the United States has in the region. This may be my bias, but I perceive the most effective approach the US can have is to encourage dialogue between Turkey and its neighbors. This obviously has political implications, as I think Turkey's motivations may be still be suspect in the region, which I believe are falsely placed.
Foreign policy for countries is not based upon politics, but instead based upon economic benefit. (re: trade). Turkey is no different.
Q. Would you say that the Arab Spring is still an ongoing process? And what are its main messages to people in post-Soviet authoritarian countries?
A. I don't connect the Arab Spring to the post-Soviet authoritarian countries at this point (or at least I don't see it).
The Arab revolutions seemingly are cultures/countries that have been dictated to for decades (either from internal or international communities) who are attempting to define their own political identity. This is similar to the former Eastern bloc, but each was influenced by dissimilar interests by those powers seeking to exert influence.
Keep in mind, America was fighting a civil war where more American died than all other of their wars combined 90 years after the Declaration of Independence.
The political liberation of these countries is generational, and most likely our generation will not see the political outcome of the current events we are witnessing.
Q. The US-Russia relations are rather likely deteriorating since President Putin returned back to the Kremlin last year. The latest Magnistsky bill clearly wasn't understood properly in Moscow. Do you think the latest developments might be a sign of a possible cold war return? Do the US and Russia need to reset the reset?
A. There has never been a reset. As stated previously, all countries seek to exert their economic influence internationally, for their own benefit. It probably shouldn't be ironic to me, but it strikes me that both countries economic benefit often center on their own military industrial complex (Russia: Syria. United States: Iraq). -25В-
Question-answer
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