What does the re-election of Bush mean for the Middle-East

Contrary to the expectations of worldly intellectuals, George W. Bush was re-elected. In fact, nearly all the polls in the United States showed the Americans, overall, thought Bush was unsuccessful in economic measures, and in particular in his attempts to reduce unemployment. They also thought his tax refunds to the rich only helped the rich and the Iraqi war only increased the threat of terror. And yet they still voted for him.

The percentage of voters stood at record levels with the votes cast for Bush at a level higher than any previously elected president.

Why?

My first guess is Mr. Kerry was unable to convince the electorate that he could create a new image and program for the United States.

But there is another issue: The people of the United States are becoming more and more conservative,moreover, I believe this is not just the case in the United States as people in other countries are also leaning more and more to conservative values with each passing year. In fact, 20 percent of all the voters said the most important issue for them in life were moral values with 80 percent of these people voting for Bush.

Now we have a president, not only for the United States but for the world, whose aggressive and hawk-like views have been re-approved after pragmatically being tested in the first four years of his presidency.

Bush, with a religious approach to worldly affairs, represents the conservatives obviously more than Mr. Kerry, and conservative people of the United States believe that in order to protect their moral values and their country, they need an aggressive government.

So, what does all this mean for the world? It means we will have an even more aggressive world power Bush’s second term. One should also bear in mind that Bush does not need another "approval" from the people because he cannot run for a third term. I believe this fact will only make him and his team yet more aggressive.

It is not only a wild guess that Bush will be at his most active in the Middle East: I believe that without seeking the assistance of the United Nations, he will see to it that he establishes law and order in Iraq on his own. That means he will have to control Sunni and Shiite terrorism in Iraq, and to those ends he will use sheer and brutal force in Iraq more than ever.

One should take note that the brutality in the city of Fallujah in Iraq became more aggressive after the election of last Tuesday. Bush will see to it that the election is conducted in Iraq next year and the administration his team approves of gets elected. Bush’s team will also see to it that the Kurds in northern Iraq will have their federal government as well next year. Turkey must digest this reality as it will happen whatever.

Bush will also try to win the hearts of Islamic people via Palestine. After the Arafat era he will see to it that Palestinians elect a pro-U.S. government and then he will force Israel into long-term peace.

After the rejection of the March 1 memorandum in Parliament, Turkish Army-U.S. relations worsened substantially, but I believe that Turkey is still the most trusted U.S. ally in the Middle East.

The United States will aggressively attempt to force the EU into accepting Turkey for membership next term. The United States will continue to demand Turkey becomes a role model in the so-called Greater Middle East Project.

The country that will be the most influential next term will be Iran in the Middle East. Bush will see to it that Iran gives up its nuclear research before he leaves the White House. He will explore every available means in attempting to do so.

I believe the Middle East will be under even more fire next term.