The Middle East’s Five Crises

The unrest in the Middle East may seem overwhelming, but the key to stability rests in five areas, according to Joris Voorhoeve, former defense minister for the Netherlands – the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the overall conflict between extremists and the government. Practical solutions are possible for each area: With Iraq troubled by civil strife, one solution could rest in separating the population. In Afghanistan, destroying poppy crops turns citizens against NATO and the US, so a better strategy would be to target heroin bosses and their networks, while buying poppy crops from farmers and then destroying them. In Iran, sanctions and covert operations could discourage nuclear ambitions. For Israel, the international community must help mediate, support and enforce the agreement, now ready, regarding the Golan Heights. Demonstrating that economic opportunity, good governance and peace are possible in a few key trouble spot could diminish support for extremists operating throughout the Middle East. In the absence of strong global leadership, international organizations and governments must recognize priorities for the region and coordinate foreign policy accordingly, in practical ways, to deliver stability to the Middle East. – YaleGlobal