Michael Weiss

And if the United States leaves and there is not some kind of rapprochement there, that the Turks will pour in and just put everyone to the sword, right? So I think the PKK has sort of seen the writing on the wall and said, our interests are now political more than they are military, and we have to do a deal. And if this sticks, I mean, it's the Middle East after all.

What happens on Monday is undone on Tuesday. But if it sticks, it is a kind of momentous event. I mean, it's one of the longest, most kind of broiling conflicts in the region. It doesn't get much attention in the West, but certainly in Turkey, it's everything. And if it comes to an end, then that's a good thing. It doesn't make Erdogan any less of an authoritarian or any cuddlier.

What happens on Monday is undone on Tuesday. But if it sticks, it is a kind of momentous event. I mean, it's one of the longest, most kind of broiling conflicts in the region. It doesn't get much attention in the West, but certainly in Turkey, it's everything. And if it comes to an end, then that's a good thing. It doesn't make Erdogan any less of an authoritarian or any cuddlier.

What happens on Monday is undone on Tuesday. But if it sticks, it is a kind of momentous event. I mean, it's one of the longest, most kind of broiling conflicts in the region. It doesn't get much attention in the West, but certainly in Turkey, it's everything. And if it comes to an end, then that's a good thing. It doesn't make Erdogan any less of an authoritarian or any cuddlier.

I mean, he's still throwing journalists in prison. He still cracks down on political opponents, et cetera, et cetera. But that's a net positive. By the way, nothing to do really with with us, the United States. You know, I mean, honestly, some of the best things that have happened in the Middle East recently. Almost as a direct result of benign neglect by Washington, not any kind of intervention.

I mean, he's still throwing journalists in prison. He still cracks down on political opponents, et cetera, et cetera. But that's a net positive. By the way, nothing to do really with with us, the United States. You know, I mean, honestly, some of the best things that have happened in the Middle East recently. Almost as a direct result of benign neglect by Washington, not any kind of intervention.

I mean, he's still throwing journalists in prison. He still cracks down on political opponents, et cetera, et cetera. But that's a net positive. By the way, nothing to do really with with us, the United States. You know, I mean, honestly, some of the best things that have happened in the Middle East recently. Almost as a direct result of benign neglect by Washington, not any kind of intervention.

So I guess, you know, your Winnie the Pooh MAGA friends who say, oh, you know, America stay out. Well, there's a there's a little bit of legitimacy there. When we do less, more tends to occur, at least under the current regime. I'm for less.

So I guess, you know, your Winnie the Pooh MAGA friends who say, oh, you know, America stay out. Well, there's a there's a little bit of legitimacy there. When we do less, more tends to occur, at least under the current regime. I'm for less.

So I guess, you know, your Winnie the Pooh MAGA friends who say, oh, you know, America stay out. Well, there's a there's a little bit of legitimacy there. When we do less, more tends to occur, at least under the current regime. I'm for less.

Right. And, you know, I mean, the Syrians, they never asked for Iraq style occupation and nation building. They just wanted the assistance to get rid of the dictator. And now he's gone. We're probably the last beneficiaries of this because we were so late to the table, but they're very pleased with how this is shaken out.

Right. And, you know, I mean, the Syrians, they never asked for Iraq style occupation and nation building. They just wanted the assistance to get rid of the dictator. And now he's gone. We're probably the last beneficiaries of this because we were so late to the table, but they're very pleased with how this is shaken out.

Right. And, you know, I mean, the Syrians, they never asked for Iraq style occupation and nation building. They just wanted the assistance to get rid of the dictator. And now he's gone. We're probably the last beneficiaries of this because we were so late to the table, but they're very pleased with how this is shaken out.

And you have quite a lot of pro-Trump Syrian Americans who were pro-Trump before because they saw that things were tending in this direction, if only because of his relationship with Erdogan and his belief that, you know, America should just leave and sort of let the region sort itself out. And also, you know, Iran is on the back foot, right?

And you have quite a lot of pro-Trump Syrian Americans who were pro-Trump before because they saw that things were tending in this direction, if only because of his relationship with Erdogan and his belief that, you know, America should just leave and sort of let the region sort itself out. And also, you know, Iran is on the back foot, right?

And you have quite a lot of pro-Trump Syrian Americans who were pro-Trump before because they saw that things were tending in this direction, if only because of his relationship with Erdogan and his belief that, you know, America should just leave and sort of let the region sort itself out. And also, you know, Iran is on the back foot, right?

So they're in a very weakened pro-straight position, not pro-state position at the moment, which is probably why they want to come to the table and do a nuclear deal. So, yeah, I mean, look, I'm not necessarily averse to some of the things that are happening in that part of the world. But the real tragedy here, Tim, is that we have a country that does share our values.

So they're in a very weakened pro-straight position, not pro-state position at the moment, which is probably why they want to come to the table and do a nuclear deal. So, yeah, I mean, look, I'm not necessarily averse to some of the things that are happening in that part of the world. But the real tragedy here, Tim, is that we have a country that does share our values.

So they're in a very weakened pro-straight position, not pro-state position at the moment, which is probably why they want to come to the table and do a nuclear deal. So, yeah, I mean, look, I'm not necessarily averse to some of the things that are happening in that part of the world. But the real tragedy here, Tim, is that we have a country that does share our values.

A natural ally, the strongest army in Europe by orders of magnitude, all they're asking for, no American lives to be sacrificed or put in harm's way. All they're asking for is just give us the tools to finish what we didn't even start, but our enemy and your enemy started. And we treat them like the help. What have you done for us lately? You owe us.