I like your steps. Also, your link shows how complex and fluid the situation is (as I was saying in a previous post here).
Though, IMO, the very 1st step should be a one-on-one meeting between new US administration (after 20th Jan) and Russia.
In relation to the ME, two issues must be discussed during that meeting. 1) Syria 2) Israel and Palestine. Both are connected, critical, and can significantly contribute to either peace/stability or ongoing hostilities (and terrorism) in that region at least, medium to long-term.
These all broke today:
Turkish parliament strengthens Erdogan’s grip on power as latest round of constitutional reforms approved http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan-parliament-approves-latest-round-constitutional-reforms-a7525841.html
How Erdogan is redefining who is a Turk http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/01/turkey-erdogan-gives-takes-away-citizenship-at-will.html He now has super powers, He’s Dictator. #tcot #TX #OK
Another journalist detained over terror charges http://turkeypurge.com/another-journalist-detained-over-terror-charges
HRW’s Roth: Turkey’s Erdogan, Egypt’s Sisi violate human rights to great extremes http://turkeypurge.com/hrws-roth-turkeys-erdogan-egypts-sisi-violate-human-rights-to-great-extremes
Former NATO commander ‘behind failed coup against Erdogan’ – Turkish daily https://www.rt.com/news/353126-campbell-nato-coup-turkey/#.WHpHsreXb4A.twitter
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NOW. That is a real can of worms. This engineered chaos was done by Obama & Hillary’s meddling in the Middle East. A lot of lives may be lost as a consequences. Erdogan has totally lost it. He will kill his own in large numbers if someone does not “convince” him to back off some.