In an out-of-control Middle East — where chaos engulfs almost half the area and regional powers are proving themselves helpless against the new the Islamic State (IS) phenomenon — the serious need for a radical review of policies and alliances has finally become clear. Three main blocs are currently in conflict on several fronts: the “moderate” bloc, consisting of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Jordan; the resistance bloc of Iran, Syria, Iraq and Hezbollah; and the Turkey-Qatar alliance, which can be described as a pro-Muslim Brotherhood bloc.
As these alliances engage in wars from Libya to Iraq, the territory controlled by IS continues to grow. As of late August, IS dominates an area bordering on Turkey and Jordan that spreads from northeastern Aleppo, in Syria, to Jalawla, in eastern Iraq, a mere 38 kilometers (23.6 miles) from Iran. The Iranians are concerned, and the Saudis even more so; meanwhile, the United States, although undecided on a final strategy to defeat this new enemy, has at least made a decision to confront it and has begun doing so.
