US Envoy Praises Monarchies, Critiques Democracy

US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who also serves as the US envoy to Iraq and Syria, has made controversial remarks about governance in the Middle East. In comments reported by The New York Times, Barrack stated that 'benevolent monarchies' are the only successful system in the region and advised against 'putting on the cloak of democracy.' He added that the world 'only respects one thing: power.' These comments come from a senior US diplomat during a period of heightened regional tensions and complex US foreign policy engagements.