Sami Ramadani, senior lecturer in sociology at London Metropolitan University and a political refugee from Saddam's regime: "A shift in Turkey's policy is very significant for the region. Turkey over the last few years built friendly relations with Iran, with Hamas, the Palestinian resistance movement, and with the Syrian regime it developed very close links. They decided—Turkey decided to agree to installing the anti-ballistic missile umbrella in Turkey. Before that, they objected to such installation. This started souring relations with Iran. When it came to the demonstrations inside Syria, gradually Turkey took the side of those who want to militarize the conflict."