Turkey

Testimony prepared for the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, U.S. House of Representatives Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to testify on the Assad regime's brutal year-long crackdown on Syria's pro-democracy protestors. Throughout years as a journalist and analyst based in Damascus, I followed Tom Lantos's often-critical words on

What made Ankara do an about-face and re-embrace the West? Recognition of what gives it power in the Middle East.

The sooner the international community helps end the killing in Syria, the more likely it will be able to prevent radicalization of the country's population along sectarian lines.

That the PKK is deeply engaged in a wide array of criminal activities should not be surprising to those familiar with the group.

Turkish-Iranian rivalry in the Fertile Crescent has opened up a can of worms.

Humanitarian safe havens can protect vulnerable civilians only if backed up with sufficient power.

After a decade of discord with the United States, Turkey's ties with Washington improved significantly during 2011.

Turkish Kurds may soon go from being the "luckiest Kurds" in the Middle East to nearly the most politically underprivileged.

What kind of role can and should Turkey play in "Arab Spring" countries exiting authoritarian rule?