Turkey’s decade-long quest to become the Middle East’s mediator and leading power is faltering amid a series of regional crises; in particular, the unrest in Syria. Its “honest broker” reputation has now been seriously undermined, and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has stepped into this role with the brokering of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last month. Turkey's choices could be seen as missteps, but perhaps not. And in any event, its new role as a partisan player in the Middle East is better for Western interests.
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