No. 167 - Obama’s failure in the Middle East

Institute for Western Affairs' Bulletin (No.167/2014), Professor Jadwiga Kiwerska, ‘Obama’s failure in the Middle East’

For a number of years now, the United States has played a pivotal role in pursuing the diplomatic effort in the Middle East. All the more puzzling is the utmost inertia displayed by Washington at the current stage of the Middle East crisis. Other than several appeals to parties to the conflict to conclude an immediate cease-fire and take advantage of President Barack Obama’s offer of assistance in the negotiation, the US diplomacy has done nothing, at least not officially. Why is that? How has America come to withdraw from its leading role in attempting to keep the dispute from blowing up?