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Prisoner of Geography: Middle East

The Middle East:  Familiar story--country lines drawn by Europeans don't fit the geography/religion of the region--trouble.
Empty Quarter is largest desert in world.
Sunni Muslims:  85%
Shia: shiat Ali:  Party of Ali, whom they believe was cheated out of Muhammed's legacy. Iraq as three countries:  Mosul--Kurd; Baghdad--Sunni: Basra--Shia.  Tyrant needed to hold "country" together (Saddam).
Kurds make up parts of Syria, Turkey, and Iran. Also, Kurds aren't unified.

Israel geography makes holding places like the Golan Heights crucial.  No Plan B if overrun. Palestinian state is not high on the priority list of Egypt, Syria, or Jordan--they would want part of the "new" country. Much of the West Bank is a mountain ridge--Israel does not want Jordan to control mountains (rocket fire) and so does not--understandably-- want to return West Bank. Main threat to Israel would be Syria


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