Is it just me or is it the world is getting more confrontational faster these days?The balance of power in the ME is changing. Previously weak groups, Shi'ites and Kurds are getting much more assertive. It's quite similar to the post Tito Balkans IMO.
You’re correct. It is due to the destruction of central authority in Iraq (Saddam), just as the chaos in the Balkans followed the loss of Tito’s authority in Yugoslavia.