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Stephen Kinzer Discusses U.S. Strategy in the Middle East and Turkeyâ€™s Critical Role

11 June 2010 04:59 (UTC +04:00)

Washington â€“ Isabel Levine â€“ APA. Stephen Kinzer, award-winning author and foreign correspondent, will discuss his latest book â€œReset: Iran, Turkey and Americaâ€™s Futureâ€ this evening, on June 10, at a special event presented by Baruch College/CUNY Weissman School of Arts and Sciences and The Light Millennium in collaboration with The American Turkish Society.

The discussion took place at Baruch College, over 150 guests from the diplomacy, academia, business and media circles participated. The event, one of Mr. Kinzerâ€™s first appearances in New York following the release of his book on June 8, offered an opportunity to discuss U.S.-Turkish relations, the role of Iran, Azerbaijan and other countries of the region in light of recent developments.

In his paradigm-shifting book, Stephen Kinzer offers a surprising answer to what the United States can do to help realize its dream of a peaceful, democratic region. He argues that two countries in the region are America’s logical partners in the twenty-first century: Iran and Turkey. He bases this new "power triangle" on the similarities between the countries. They share strategic interests, like a stable Iraq, stable Afghanistan, and stable Pakistan; and their people also share a desire for democratic values. He also recommends that the United States reshape relations with its two traditional Middle East allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Kinzer points out that Azerbaijan is an important partner both strategically and economically.

Stephen Kinzer is the author of Overthrow, All the Shah’s Men, Crescent and Star, and numerous other books.