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For Erdogan, Troubles In Syria Just Beginning

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Barack Obama should devise an effective regional strategy for dealing with the crisis in Syria, wrItes Yavuz Baydar.

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan after a bilateral meeting in Seoul March 25, 2012. Both leaders will attend the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul on Monday. REUTERS/Larry Downing  (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) - RTR2ZUE9
US President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a meeting in Seoul, March 25, 2012. — REUTERS/Larry Downing

Two weeks ago, I dined with a diplomat from a European Union country, who is closely familiar with the social fabric of the Middle East, has written books about the region and is an expert on the “deep” Syria.

He smiled bitterly when our conversation touched upon the humanitarian aspect of the atrocities and the refugee tragedy. “He has not started the real massacres yet. And you’ll know it when he does,” the diplomat said.

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