by Ralph T. Niemeyer
http://eu-chronicle.eu/2015/12/14-nations-compete-for-potential-for-ww-iii/
If one really wants to understand the current crisis, a look at the energy transport corridors might be helpful.
This war, that many experts warn is bearing the potential for a third world war, even if it is not fought by nuclear means, yet, is about the world’s largest gas reserves South Pars/North Dome at the bottom of the Persian Gulf and which is claimed fo more than 25 years already by Iran as well as Qatar.
On the Qatar-side a proposed pipeline shall lead through Saudi Arabia, Jordania and Syria to Turkey and to avoind expensive shipping costs thus competing with Russian gas. Western Free World Democracies support the project since 2009 and more actively in the past 4 years. The creation, training and financing of the Anti-Assad “moderate” rebels and the so called Islamic State (“IS”) until today are stemming from those countries and are actively supported by the Erdogan-regime.
Russia tried to obstruct the project and pursued the alternative pipeline from Iran to Syria and also planned to make use of the Tengiz gas field in the Caspian Sea.
Since President Assad of Syria, lobbied by his Moscow-allies, resisted the Qatar-Turkey – project and agreed to sing in July 2011 a ten billion USD – contract with Iran which became effective in July 2012.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia had begun in autumn 2011 to finance al-Nusra and al Qaida uprisings against Assad. USA, UK, France and Turkey knew about Qatar’s plans and secretely gave the green light.
But, also the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields off the coast of Palestine, Lebanon and Israel play a role in the geo strategic game. Had the Oslo peace accord signed between Arafat and Rabin ever be implemented the resources within the 200 sea mile zone from the Israeli and Palestine coast would have to be shared equally between the two states. Lebanon and Syria would also put claims in the newly discovered “Second Persian Gulf”. That’s why these two countries are being destabilised by terrorism.
But, Israel has also other interests in regards to Syria: the so called “moderate” rebels are committed to return the Golan heights to Israel should they manage to topple Assad.
On 19 October 2015 President Putin and Prime Minister Netanyahu signed a memorandum expanding cooperation for Gazprom to explore the Leviathan gas field.
So, the front-lines in the present conflict are somehwat obscure but one thing is clear: as always, all major powers try to get the best out of a conflict and pursue their own interests no matter what awkward alliance they need to form.
