Grand political games in the Middle Eastern theatre

Grand political games are being played out across the Middle East. At the higher spectrum we have Russia attempting to reassert its influence in the Mediterranean so that it can influence developments in Syria specifically. The US lack of commitment to the Syrian rebel cause has provided the Russians with a perfect opportunity. They are likely to increase their naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean imminently and will increase their military support for the Syrian regime, which is increasingly making gains against the rebels. On a more regional focus, the Iranians are on the front foot in negotiations over its nuclear weapons and in Syria. With the US constraining Israel anxiety, Iran is progressing with its development program while continuing its support of the Syrian regime. Turkey meanwhile remains upset over the mid-May car bombing in its Hatay province, an attack blamed on Syrian intelligence. Yet Turkey has not responded as yet. This is interesting and points again to its precarious position. It is emerging from a successfully negotiated ceasefire with the PKK but doesn't have the support of NATO or the US to intervene in Syria. It will continue to issue provocative statements but not intervene until it is confident that it will not lose any confrontations. While the Syrian regime is on the front foot, Turkey is unlikely to make moves against Syria. At a micro level, the disjointed rebels in Syria are suffering. They are being bombarded by Syrian government artillery and heavy weapons and are increasingly affected by in-fighting and disagreements over ideology. The Islamist influence is growing, posing massive concerns for the future of the country and region. If the Islamist militant fringe is allowed to grow further it will evolve into an insurgency that may make the Iraq insurgency look like child's play. This analysis will all change however if and when the US decide to awaken to the growing threat to their regional hegemony and the likely outcome of non-involvement.