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The Struggle for Middle East Mastery
(Project Syndicate) Joschka Fischer - The last illusions about what was called, until recently, the "Arab Spring" may have vanished with Egypt's military coup. Neither the Islamists nor the generals have even a rudimentary understanding of how to modernize the economy and society. So, whichever side gains the upper hand, authoritarianism and economic stagnation will prevail once again. The Egyptian situation is part of a regional drama characterized primarily by a massive loss of order. The U.S.-backed order in the Middle East is breaking down, yet no new order is emerging. Instead, there is only a spreading chaos that threatens to reach far beyond the region's borders. The U.S. is no longer willing or able to shoulder the burden of being the last force for order in the Middle East. It is withdrawing, and there is no other power to take its place. While regional powers are increasingly trying to replace the U.S. as a force for order, none of these powers is strong enough to shoulder the American burden. The writer was German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor from 1998-2005.