Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 20, 2016

The United Nations logo is displayed on a door at U.N. headquarters in New York February 26, 2011. REUTERS/ JOSHUA LOTT

Strafor: What Matters at the U.N. General Assembly

World leaders are converging on New York City for the United Nations General Assembly meeting, which is set to officially begin Sept. 20. The following are the key players and bilateral meetings we will be watching this week:

Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping the summit so he can oversee the results of the Sept. 18 parliamentary elections and prepare for a budget battle in the Kremlin. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will instead be the main Russian player to watch in New York. Last week, Moscow was busy setting the next stage for its broader negotiation with the West in implementing cease-fires in Syria and Ukraine, two theaters that require Russian collaboration for de-escalation. However, the Syrian cease-fire has effectively collapsed, and the Ukrainian cease-fire remains on shaky ground. Lavrov is nonetheless expected to advance the dialogue with the West to exchange cooperation in Syria and Ukraine for concessions, such as easing sanctions when the Europeans vote on trade restrictions on Russia early next year.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 20, 2016

Putin May Not Really Want a Syria Deal -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Now is the time to plan for a post Islamic state Mosul -- Mina Al-Oraibi, Reuters

Who Do the Terrorists Pray For? -- Jonathan Tobin, Commentary

Iraq’s Shrinking Revenues, the I.M.F. and the Oil Dilemma -- Ruba Husari, Middle East Institute

Why Arab States Have Failed -- Mohammed Ayoob, National Interest

North Korea: Reaching for Armageddon -- Euan Graham, Lowy Institute

North Korea nuke test sparks new worries for ex-diplomats -- Ted Kemp, CNBC

China’s Maritime Militia – Time to Call them Out? -- Christopher P. Cavas, Defense News

Retaliation or restraint? India has limited options over Kashmir attack -- Michael Safi, The Guardian

Bloodshed in Kashmir: Militants attack an Indian army base -- The Economist

The UN’s Urgent Plan to Help Refugees—Two Years From Now -- Uri Friedman, The Atlantic

What voters want in a president on national security -- Peter Grier, CSM

Let's not start a new Cold War with Russia -- Harlan Ullman & Arnaud de Borchgrave, UPI

Obama’s Chance for Middle East Peace -- Carl Bildt, The Strategist

Once a rock star at UN, Obama now faces skeptical world -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM