The Myth of the Shia Crescent
Leaders in both the Middle East and the US are propagating fear that Iran is aiming for regional hegemony through an array of Shia proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. But, rather than describing reality, the notion of a Iranian-backed "Shia crescent" is being used to perpetuate unconditional Western support for increasingly unstable regimes.
AMMAN – Recently, Israel’s Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz offered an unequivocal veto on a key issue in the Middle East peace process. Any return of the Golan Heights to Syria would result in an “Iranian foothold” on Israel’s border and would thus not only be politically naïve but irrational.