[George W. Bush]

Dissolve Syria, Jordan, and south-central Iraq (I agree Mosul and Kirkuk must revert to Turkey). Make the whole thing the Northern Arab Republic, our good friend and staging area for the assault on the real enemy-"Saudi" Arabia.

I think our Turkish friends would have their hands full with just half of Iraq to deal with. They could be the allies of a democratic republic of Iraq and, tacitly, of Israel and perhaps Egypt. These would all be constitutional countries that observe human rights and would serve as a check upon their unruly Arab neighbors.

This solution would also make Turkey an even more powerful stabilizing influence on all of its neighbors in the region. Given Turkey's strong performance in secular government and basic respect for human rights, this could only be a positive outcome.

Moreover, Turkey simply cannot retain its own culture and constitutional government if too much responsibility for Arabs is thrust upon it. Turks and Iranians are not and have never been Arabs, something we need to remember.

[mamelukesabre]

That is true. I know some arabs, and I get the distinct impression that arabs have a strong dislike for both turks and persians.