Middle Eastern political relationships in one easy lesson

Last year Slate published this diagram using smilies to show the state of relationships in Middle Eastern politics.

Some of these relationships may have changed in light of more recent events but assuming for a moment that they’re reasonably accurate as shown.

• Everyone but Iraq have more enemies than friends.
• ISIS and Al-Quida not surprisingly don’t have any friends.
• The Palestinian Authority seem for whatever ever reason to have a lot of complex relationships.
• The Israel – USA relationship is probably a friendly relationship that has got a bit complicated bearing in mind the squabble about Netanyahu being invited to address a joint session of the US Congress by Boehner. The White House have accordingly got their knickers in a knot.
• Saudia Arabia don’t have an oversupply of friends.

I must add that some countries like Yemen and Jordan haven’t been included.