Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 9, 2016

A New York Police Department (NYPD) officer stands guard in Grand Central Station, following the Nice terror attack, in New York City, U.S., July 15, 2016. REUTERS/BRENDAN MCDERMID

Steven Brill, The Atlantic: Is America Any Safer?

Since 9/11, the United States has spent $1 trillion to defend against al-Qaeda and ISIL, dirty bombs and lone wolves, bioterror and cyberterror. Has it worked?

Fifteen years ago this September 11, 19 terrorists, using four jetliners as guided missiles, killed 2,977 people—and enveloped the country in fear. It was the first sustained attack on American soil since the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which was a far-off military base. This massacre hit the center of our government and blasted away part of our most iconic skyline. It left a stench that New Yorkers could smell weeks later as remains continued to be recovered from the ashes.

Suddenly, we were vulnerable. Not just to disease, tornadoes, accidents, or criminals, but to the kinds of enemies that had always threatened others but never us.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 9, 2016

Paris is surrendering its streets to terror -- Nicole Gelinas, New York Post

America’s Mayors: ‘We’re Afraid for Our Police’ -- Taylor Gee & Ben Woffard, Politico

Americans Are Not Optimistic About Money -- Paul Wiseman, AP

'Rocket attack' threat highlights terror risk faced by prosperous Asia -- Audrey Kurth Cronin and Patrick M. Cronin For The Straits Times

Turkey's Erdogan, Russia's Putin reset relationship after jet shootdown -- Tim Hume, CNN

Jordanians worry over new Syria front -- Osama Al Sharif. Al-Monitor

Understanding the context of Quetta attack in Pakistan -- Tom Hussain, Al Jazeera

The UN's new North Korea rapporteur: 'We have to be realistic' -- Interview: Esther Felden, DW

China May Hate THAAD, But There's Not Much It Can Do About it -- Scott Snyder, Defense One

China Isn't a Threat to World Order -- Zhu Feng, Bloomberg

China the regional bully punishes defiance in Asia-Pacific -- Peter Hartcher, Sydney Morning Herald

The Military Escalation -- Dennis Wilder, Cipher Brief

Will Kenya's Military React to Election Violence? -- James Barnett, RCD

Russian Envy: How to Understand Russian Political Culture -- Gregory Feifer,

What Americans want from the world -- Peter Apps, Reuters

America and The World - Why It Matters -- Robert Burns, AP