Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 31, 2013

The Drone War Is Far From Over -- Akbar Ahmed, New York Times

WHEN people in Washington talk about shrinking the drone program, as President Obama promised to do last week, they are mostly concerned with placating Pakistan, where members of the newly elected government have vowed to end violations of the country’s sovereignty. But the drone war is alive and well in the remote corners of Pakistan where the strikes have caused the greatest and most lasting damage.

Drone strikes like Wednesday’s, in Waziristan, are destroying already weak tribal structures and throwing communities into disarray throughout Pakistan’s tribal belt along the border with Afghanistan. The chaos and rage they produce endangers the Pakistani government and fuels anti-Americanism. And the damage isn’t limited to Pakistan. Similar destruction is occurring in other traditional tribal societies like Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen. The tribes on the periphery of these nations have long struggled for more autonomy from the central government, first under colonial rule and later against the modern state. The global war on terror has intensified that conflict.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Which of Syria's neighbors has most to lose in the fight? -- Jeff Neumann, Global Post

Why Russia sells Syria arms -- Steve Rosenberg, BBC News

How Russia Undercuts Itself with the S-300 -- Dore Gold, Jerusalem Post

Syria and the Middle East: our greatest miscalculation since the rise of fascism -- Simon Jenkins, The Guardian

UNICEF: Syria risks a lost generation -- CNN (video)

Forget diplomacy: With Iran, pressure works -- Reuel Marc Gerecht and Mark Dubowitz, The Globe and Mail

The Wild West in East Africa -- James Bridger and Jay Bahadur, Foreign Policy

EU Foreign Policy Needs a Reset -- Ulrich Speck, Real Clear World

The German "diktat" and its discontents -- Fabio Rafael Fiallo, The Commentator

Europe’s unemployment conundrum -- Bruce Stokes, Pew Research Center

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 30, 2013

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) gestures during an interview with al-Manar TV in Damascus, in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency SANA, on May 30,2013. REUTERS/SANA/Handout via Reuters

What If al-Assad Prevails? -- Charles Dunne, Special to CNN

Let’s imagine a world in which Bashar al-Assad wins a military victory, remains in power, and defies the world to deal with him. Because, unfortunately, it appears to be an all too plausible scenario.

An influx of Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon, and support from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, has intensified fighting along the strategic corridor from Qusayr to Damascus. Reported use of chemical weapons, most probably by the Syrian government, has crossed a red line that the U.S. government has ignored, and thus sent a clear and discouraging message to the opposition. Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah, for his part, said in a May 26 television address that Hezbollah would beat down al-Assad's opponents and stay in Syria as long as it needed to do it. “We will continue this road until the end, we will take the responsibility and we will make all the sacrifices,” Nasrallah said. “We will be victorious.”

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Assad’s Foolish Boast -- Max Boot, Commentary

Russia sending missiles to Syria; arms from Britain, France could follow as embargo lapses -- Max Ehrenfreund, Washington Post

Syrian arms embargo: Why more weapons to Syria is a mistake -- Anna Macdonald, Special to CNN

What Happens If Syria Gets S-300 Missiles? -- Yaakov Katz, Daily Beast

Assad ups use of chemical weapons in Syria – with impunity -- Daniel Nisman, Christian Science Monitor

Hezbollah's Syrian Adventure -- Mitchell Prothero, Foreign Policy

If the Muslim Brotherhood is Taking Over Tunisia What Hope is there for Anyone Else? -- Barry Rubin, PJMedia

Comfort women: South Korea's survivors of Japanese brothels -- Lucy Williamson BBC News, Seoul

China Is Our Number One National Security Threat -- IBD Editorial

Could Youth Vote Stir Up Next European Elections? -- Voice of America/Reuters

Euro Crisis: Spain Isn't Far Behind Greece in Terms Of Collapse -- Sarah Katz, Policymic

France’s Pointless, Hopeless Battle Against English -- Andrew Roberts, Daily Beast

The fall of the last bastion of free speech in Venezuela -- Juan Nagel, Transitions/Foreign Policy

Colombia and the FARC: The price of peace -- The Economist

Argentine prosecutor accuses Iran of establishing terror network in Latin America -- David Barnett, Long War Journal

The drone enigma -- Khaleej Times editorial

World-class tax evaders need a global response -- Christian Science Monitor editorial

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 29, 2013

Senator John McCain (l.), an outspoken advocate for US military aid to the Syrian opposition, meets with Syrian Emergency Task Force Executive Director Mouaz Moustafa (2nd r.) during a surprise visit to Syria in this May 27, 2013 handout photo. Razan Shalab AlSham/Syrian Emergency Task Force/via Reuters

McCain Visit, End Of Arms Embargo Signal That West Won't Let Syrian Rebels Sink -- Tom A. Peter, Christina Science Monitor

The EU decision to allow its arms embargo on Syria to expire and US Sen. John McCain's brief meeting with Syrian rebel leaders signal they are not prepared to let the opposition lose.

After pleading with the international community for well over a year to provide weapons and military support, this week the Syrian opposition received two positive signs that the West may be moving closer to granting its wish.

The European Union agreed not to renew its weapons embargo on Syria, opening the door to member states providing arms to the opposition, and US Sen. John McCain traveled inside Syria to meet with opposition leaders. Coming ahead of a US and Russia-backed meeting between government and opposition figures next month, the decision not to renew the embargo may have also been political posturing to indicate to the Syrian government and its backers that the West will not allow the opposition to be defeated.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Middle East countries fighting proxy war in Syria -- Deutsche Welle

Why Syria is (still) different for the West -- Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor

Big-Time Terrorists Line Up To Lead Iran -- IBD Editorial

Think Again: A Nuclear Iran. Why it won’t be the end of the world if the mullahs get the bomb. -- Alireza Nader, Foreign Policy

After drone kills Taliban deputy, what will new Pakistan government do? -- Taha Siddiqui, Christian Science Monitor

An Ambiguous Anniversary in Cambodia: So whatever happened to the most ambitious peacekeeping operation in history? -- Karen J. Coates, Democracy Lab/Foreign Policy

Middlepowerism & Continuity in South Korean Foreign Policy -- Jeffrey Robertson, The Diplomat

Chinese Lead World in Economic Optimism -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

South Sudan: The Collapsing Sudanese Economy - Political and Military Implications, International Obligations - Yale Journal of International Relations -- Eric Reeves, allAfrica.com

Europe's Youth Unemployment Fallacy -- Alexander Demling, Spiegel Online

Will May 2013 go down as France's May 1968, part deux? -- Sara Miller Llana, Christian Science Monitor

Western Cultural Suicide: We are blind to the contradictions in welcoming an immigrant but not making him one of us. -- Victor Davis Hanson, NRO

Canada Needs a Strategic Rethink -- Robert Farley, The Diplomat

Is the Dollar Dying? Why US Currency Is in Danger. -- Jeff Cox, CNBC

What If the Next President Is Even Worse? -- Ron Fournier, National Journal

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 28, 2103

Civil Wars And Syria: Lessons From History -- Michael O'Hanlon and Sean Zeigler, Reuters

Most of the international debate about Syria policy focuses on how to remove President Bashar al-Assad from power.

Options for NATO states and key Arab League partners include everything from enlisting Russia’s help in a diplomatic approach, with a conference now envisioned for early June, to arming the rebels to perhaps even supporting them with limited amounts of airpower. Removing Assad, however, would no more end the Syrian conflict than overthrowing Saddam Hussein in 2003 brought stability to Iraq. The United States must create a more integrated overall strategy.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

In Syria, Go Big or Stay Home -- Ray Takeyh, New York Times

Syrian stalemate fuelled by opposition's bitter infighting -- Hassan Hassan, The National

Iran’s nuclear games demand a tougher U.S. approach -- Dennis Ross and David Makovsky, Washington Post

In Iran, Two Bombing Suspects Run for President -- Jonathan Schanzer, The Atlantic

Ayatollah Khamenei’s slow-motion power grab in Iran -- Peter Jones, The Globe and Mail

Palestinians Want U.S. Cash, Not Peace -- Jonathan S. Tobin, Commentary

Chinese Cyber Espionage: Don't Believe the Hype -- Max Eddy, PC Mag

Egypt's antiquities face bigger problems than Chinese graffiti -- Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor

The Dangers of Britain's Islamist Underground -- Christoph Scheuermann, Spiegel Online

Britain's Anti-Muslim Rage -- Corinne Purtill, RealClear.com

The FARC is Weak; The Taliban is Strong -- Max Boot, Commentary

Stupid -- P.J. O’Rourke, Weekly Standard

Cyber attacks much more widespread -- Alan Dupont, The Australian

The Charges Against Liberty Reserve Sound Familiar? They Should—and Here’s Why That Should Worry You -- Kurt Eichenwald, Vanity Fair

Obama Does Not Understand Warfare -- Sam C. Holliday, American Thinker

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 24, 2013

Rhetorical vs. Substantive Change in Obama’s Security Policy -- Max Boot, Commentary

With his address today at National Defense University, President Obama continued his pattern of trying to separate himself from the Bush administration—while largely carrying on, and even expanding, its legacy in the counter-terrorism fight.

Obama said, for example, that after he came into office, “we unequivocally banned torture, affirmed our commitment to civilian courts, worked to align our policies with the rule of law, and expanded our consultations with Congress.” Umm, actually all of that happened in Bush’s second term.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

The World Still Needs American Muscle -- Robert Kaplan, Real Clear World

Is Bashar al-Assad winning the civil war in Syria? -- The Telegraph

Russia's Syria Policy Isn't Going to Change -- Michael Weiss, NOW

A Cyberattack Campaign for Syria -- Chris Finan, New York Times

What is Hezbollah? -- Fouad Ajami, Real Clear Politics

Japan the Model -- Paul Krugman, New York Times

Water, the Great Regional Threat in Asia -- Luke Hunt, The Diplomat

The London Terror Attack Was More Than 'Unforgivable' -- Douglas Murray, Wall Street Journal

Keeping the peace with Russia -- Paul J. Saunders, Washington Post

Moscow Fills the Superpower Vacuum -- Daniel McGroarty, Real Clear World

Early Putin biography gives insight into dark mood of distrust in president’s inner circle -- Will Englund, Washington Post

Swedish Multiculturalism Goes Awry -- Soeren Kern, Real Clear World

A nation of centrists -- Chris Selley, National Post

What's Behind Venezuela's Toilet-Paper Shortage? -- Alasdair Baverstock, The Atlantic

What scandals? Obama tries tacking to terror, drones and Gitmo -- Andrew Malcolm, Investors.com

Bernanke out by August, QE ends, rates up: Crash -- Paul B. Farrell, Market Watch

Commentaries, Opinonis, And Editorials -- May 23, 2013

Welcome To Woolwich, Where English Terrorists Say Sorry While They Murder -- Peter Pomerantsev, The Daily Beast

If the Londoner wielding a cleaver wanted to start a war, then Woolwich—home to poverty, the most violent immigrant gangs, and bubbling racial tension—is the place to start.

Yesterday at about 2:20 p.m., two young men armed with long knives and meat cleavers decapitated an off-duty soldier on an ordinary street in the London borough of Woolwich. The victim was wearing a “Help for Heroes” T-shirt, a charity to raise money for injured servicemen. The two attackers cried “Allahu Akhbar” as they hacked at him. Then, one of the attackers, still holding a bloodied machete and dripping knives, his hands still shining with fresh blood, still breathing hard from the work of separating a man’s head from his body, walked over to a TV camera and gave a monologue: “I apologize women had to see this, but in our country women have to see this every day.”

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Video magnifies London terrorists' savage bravado -- Tom Rogan, FOX News

An atrocity in London: Return to old-style terror -- The Economist

Did similar detours bring terrorism to streets of Boston and London? -- Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor

Israel is fighting a regional war in Syria -- Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, RT

Is Jabhat al-Nosra breaking apart? -- Aron Lund, Syria Comment

Tehran’s Designs on Afghanistan -- Sanjay Kumar, The Diplomat

The sooner the US exits Afghanistan, the better -- Matthew Hoh and Matt Southworth, The Guardian

Why, Despite Everything, Iranians Are Still Excited to Vote -- Hooman Majd, Foreign Affairs

Is China Inserting Itself Into the Taiwan-Philippines Spat? -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

China nears point of no return with Kim -- Francesco Sisci, Asia Times

Is Kim Jong Un more bellicose than his dad was? -- Troy Stangarone, Andrew Kwon and Peter Taves, Special to CNN

U.S. Perilously Ignores Island Conflicts in Asia -- Donald Gross, Real Clear World

The Thankless Task of Greece's Top Job-Cutter -- Manfred Ertel, Spiegel Online

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 23, 2013

The Woolwich 'Beheading' Is Straight Out Of al-Qaeda's Terror Manual -- Con Coughlin, The Telegraph

The horrific killing in Woolwich, where a man believed to be a soldier based at the nearby Woolwich barracks was beheaded by two machete-wielding assailants, has all the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda attack.

At the time of writing we are still awaiting confirmation from security officials about the precise nature of the incident. But having just watched some ITV footage, which shows a man with bloodied hands who is carrying a machete saying directly into the camera "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you", it seems pretty clear to me what has happened.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

The Cold War Heats Up in Syria Why Russia won't allow an intervention -- Julia Ioffe, The New Republic

Kerry's Plan to End the War in Syria -- J. Michael Quinn and Madhav Joshi, Foreign Policy

Syria Burns, Obama Dithers, Congress Fumes…and Iran Watches -- Walter Russell Mead's, The American Interest

Iran presidential vote: Who's in? Who's out? Who cares? -- Carol J. Williams, L.A. Times

The Middle East: Tell Me How This Ends -- Thomas Friedman, New York Times

Because Of Ideology, Benghazi Terrorists Remain Free -- IBD Editorial

Benghazi Suspects ID’d, But Administration Won’t Nab Them Because It Doesn’t Want to Send Them to Gitmo -- Bridget Johnson, PJ Media

A leak in high places puts Ugandans on edge -- Jackee Batanda, Transitions/Foreign Policy

The Show Trial State: Why Russia's ludicrous attempt to silence Alexey Navalny is a throwback to the bad old times of Stalin and Khrushchev. -- Nina Khrushcheva, Foreign Policy

For Putin, Paranoia Trumps Legitimacy -- Seth Mandel, Commentary

Scrutiny of Ireland begins to bite in Apple tax inquiry -- Arthur Beesley, Irish Times

Venezuela, Black and Blue -- Boris Munoz, New Yorker

Obama Returns to Kissinger's Realpolitik -- Gregor Peter Schmitz, Spiegel Online

Why this global fascination with the Toronto mayor's alleged cocaine use? -- Colin Horgan, The Guardian

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 21, 2013

Syrian Intervention Would Be A Minefield -- Michael Sexton, The Australian

THE calls for international, by which it is essentially meant US, intervention in Syria raise some important questions about the relationship between sovereign states and the global community.

There are, of course, some recent precedents for outside intervention in the affairs of nation states to bring about a change of regime or even to create a new national entity out of one region of the original country.

So in the 1990s NATO bombing forced Serbia to surrender its province of Kosovo which had an Albanian majority with a still significant Serbian minority population. Kosovo was then recognised as a new national entity by most of the international community. And it was a NATO-sponsored no-fly zone over Libya that largely resulted in the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi's rule and the takeover by a new government.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Hezbollah’s decisive factor -- Khaleej Times

Ghosts of Iraq -- Nikolas K. Gvosdev, National Interest

Rafsanjani exclusion shows Iran establishment's weakness -- Saeed Barzin BBC

The Arab collapse: Middle East a vulture’s feast -- Ralph Peters, New York Post

Why China’s Riches Won’t Bring It Freedom -- Pankaj Mishra, Bloomberg

China's New Governing Style: Crisis Management -- Elizabeth Economy, The Atlantic

Cause for hope -- and fear -- in Pakistan -- Peter Tomsen, L.A. Times

China and India's smoldering problem -- Jonathan Levine, Special for CNN

Seas of troubles: Taiwan and China share the same maritime claims, but have very different interests -- The Economist

Nigeria: Why Islamism succeeds, in miniature -- Seth J. Frantzman, Jerusalem Post

The Pope and the Devil: Is Francis an Exorcist? -- Nicole Winfield, AP

Russia’s spy games -- Washington Post editorial

Forget Paris: Stymied by Socialist Policies, the French Start to Quit France -- Vivienne Walt, Time

Spain's Angry and Unemployed Young Men -- George Friedman, Stratfor/Real Clear World

Leaks turn to deluge for reeling White House -- John Podhoretz, New York Post

Stop the Leaks -- William Barr/Jamie S. Gorel;ick/Kenneth L. Wainstein, New York Times

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 20, 2013

Hezbollah's Heading For Sectarian Showdown -- UPI

Hezbollah has taken heavy losses while backing regime forces in Syria, heightening concerns the Shiite movement's heading for a showdown with Sunni jihadists.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 20 (UPI) -- Hezbollah has reportedly taken heavy losses while backing regime forces in Syria who stormed a strategic town near the Lebanese border, heightening concerns the Shiite movement's heading for a showdown with Sunni jihadists that many see as inevitable.

Several hundred Lebanese Shiite fighters played a key part in Sunday's capture of Qusair, which commands the vital supply route between the Syrian capital Damascus and the Mediterranean coast.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Syrian Intervention Would Be a Minefield -- Michael Sexton, The Australian

The Iranian threat isn’t nuclear – it’s political -- Doug Sanders, The Globe and Mail

China and India's smoldering problem -- Jonathan Levine, Special for CNN

The Forever War In Darfur -- Strategy Page

Egyptians don’t like Morsi’s presidency, but opposition flounders anyway -- Nancy A. Youssef, McClatchy Foreign Staff

Do white people have a future in South Africa? -- John Simpson, BBC

How China Chokes Its Neighbors -- Geoffrey Cain, Global Post

Chinese premier visits India, talks up trade and trust -- Peter Ford, Christian Science Monitor

Why Japan Should Ignore China’s Okinawa Provocation -- Taylor Washburn, The Diplomat

How the world looks from India -- Amitabh Mattoo and Rory Medcalf, The Hindu

Dagestan’s Shadow War, Fought by ‘Many Tsarnaevs’ -- Ellen Barry, New York Times

Greece Isn’t Turning the Corner -- Megan Greene, Bloomberg

Whither the Chilean model? -- Fernando Menendez, The Commentator

Obama’s turn inward poses risk for U.S. interests abroad -- Fred Hiatt, Washington Post

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 17, 2013

New Russian Missile Sales to Syria Makes Assad 'Prone to Miscalculation' -- Paul D. Shinkman, US News and World Report

Gen. Dempsey says U.S. cannot prevent weapons sales to Syrians

Russia's decision to supply the Syrian regime with the advanced missiles poses more than simply a military threat, the top U.S. military officer said Friday.

"It's at the very least an unfortunate decision that will embolden the regime and prolong the suffering," says Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "It's ill-timed and very unfortunate."

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Can Obama Save Turkey From a Syrian Quagmire? -- Soner Cagaptay and James F. Jeffrey, New York Times

Heart-eating video raises pressure to end Syrian war -- Simon Tisdall, Special to CNN

Washington blunders yet again in Syria -- Michael Young, The Daily Star

Iran’s election has suddenly become interesting – and uncertain -- Shenaz Kermalli, The Globe and Mail

Back to the Future in Iran's Election -- Sahar Namazikhah and Reza Marashi, National Interest

Japan's 'secret' trip to North Korea disrupts united stance against Pyongyang -- Justin McCurry, Christian Science Monitor

China best halt at cliff of supporting Japanese separatism -- Frank Ching, The China Post

Crisis of Friendship: Split Persists Between Berlin and Paris -- Spiegel Online

The Spy Scandal In Moscow: Nothing To See Here -- Mark Adomanis, Forbes

No more drug war in Latin America? Report explores new ways to fight drugs -- Lauren Villagran, Christian Science Monitor

Canada must rule its Arctic waves -- Victor Suthren, Ottawa Citizen

Russian spies still seek to humiliate the West -- Ben Macintyre, The Australian/The Times

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has quite the rap sheet — if it's true -- Simon Kent, Toronto Sun

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- May 16, 2013

Turkey May Be Obama's Key To Solving Syria Crisis -- Ed Husain, Special to CNN

(CNN) -- Almost every American ally in the Middle East is desperately calling out for help, and we are ignoring them. Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain -- and behind closed doors, even Egypt -- want American involvement in Syria to stop the blood bath.

But the twin ghosts of Iraq and Afghanistan seem to have paralyzed America in the Arab world.

On Thursday, Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will visit President Barack Obama in Washington. This is an ideal opportunity to throw American weight behind greater Turkish leadership in resolving the Syrian conflict -- and declare as much from the White House. The conflict is spreading fast outside of Syria, and unless regional powers such as Turkey, Israel and Saudi Arabia are empowered to act militarily, and swiftly, many more lives will be lost and the Middle East further destabilized.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Turkey and Syria: An explosive border -- The Economist

Why the Syrian quagmire threatens Turkey -- Fadi Hakura, Special to CNN

Has Obama missed the moment in Syria? McCain says 'Assad is winning' -- FOX News

Wrong message in Syria's war imagery -- National Editorial

In Syria, terrorist designation means more go hungry -- Tom Peter, Christian Science Monitor

Iraq, Afghanistan can serve as lessons for Syria -- Deutsche Welle

How did Turkey become the world's leading jailer of journalists? -- Christophe Deloire and Joel Simon, Foreign Policy

It will take more than two new candidates to change Iran -- Ray Takeyh, Financial Times

Why Iran’s Mullahs Fear Ahmadinejad’s Messianism -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

Mandela Fades Amid Battles Over Who Will Claim Legacy -- Lydia Polgreen, New York Times

The long road ahead for Pakistan's comeback king: Nawaz Sharif -- Shamila N. Chaudhary, Special to CNN

Benghazi: History of Pueblo Repeats Itself -- Todd Crowell, Real Clear History

Is Venezuela becoming a failed state? -- Juan Nagel, Foreign Policy

How to End the Forever War -- Harold Hongju Koh, Real Clear World

America the Isolated? -- Fareed Zakaria, Time