Dire predictions

US and French intelligence chiefs gave a similar forecast for the future of the Middle East at a recent seminar organised by George Washington University on intelligence predictions for the area.

The two high officials share a common view of what to expect in the region and have come to conclusion that the Middle East that the world has known for decades no longer exists and will be changed forever.

Both said that the Syrian and Iraqi borders will not be how the world knew them, and cautioned that there is no military solution to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

This gloomy forecast for this part of the world is bad news. It does not augur well for the region’s security and stability.

Neither does it hold the promise of hope for a peaceful and just settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian problem, which seems to spawn more and more radicalised groups that claim to embrace this cause to further their often malefic interests that have little to do with Palestine.

These dire predictions could still be addressed and the dark future of the region re-charted if the conflicts in Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Yemen are brought to peaceful resolutions.

That, unfortunately, does not seem to be on the cards, in no small measure because of the intervention of many outside powers with vested interests in seeing the area weakened, fragmented and unable to stand up to evil designs.

Only regional and international coordination and a strong will might change the course and aim for sane solutions.

But with the many countries from outside the region interfering in the course of events in the region and playing major roles in shaping its future, the wish to see the region’s borders unchanged remains just a dream.

Russia’s recent intervention, the US’ older involvement and Iran’s growing ascendancy in the region point to too many hands tearing at the Middle East with the outcome being, no doubt, as that described by the British and French intelligence officials.

It will clearly take a miracle to restore the region to normalcy, but the world should not give up on finding reasonable accommodation for all festering crises in the area.

The lives of too many people are affected, and the international community must sure be tired of death, blood and tears.