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In his many media appearances, Tom Barrack—Washington’s ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria and Lebanon—has displayed a remarkable willingness to wander far beyond the cautious vocabulary of diplomacy. His interviews are sprinkled with sweeping historical claims, eccentric interpretations of Middle Eastern politics, and philosophical musings that often bear little resemblance to the strategic posture of the administration he serves. At times, it is difficult to discern whether he is articulating U.S. policy or freelancing his own worldview. What is clear is that some of his pronouncements raise eyebrows not only in the region, but also among American allies who wonder whether his words inadvertently empower the very actors Washington seeks to contain.

One of Barrack’s favorite formulations is the phrase........

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