Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 8, 2017

The Economist: The Iraqi army is on the brink of defeating Islamic State

But the government must move fast if it is not to squander its victory

IN A series of lightning advances over the past few days, Iraq’s army has seized control of most of western Mosul, the last redoubt of Islamic State (IS) in the country. On March 7th, a day that may have marked a turning point, army units took Mosul’s main government complex, as well as the city’s famous antiquities museum and about half of the old city. The airport had fallen a week or so earlier, and all roads in and out of the city in which the leader of IS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared his “caliphate” in June 2014 are firmly in government hands.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 8, 2017

The Coming Fall of Mosul: Iraqi forces are on the verge of a mighty victory. -- Andrew Exum, The Atlantic

Surviving ISIS In Mosul: Stories -- Michael Bachelard and Kate Geraghty, Sydney Morning Herald

Study: Iran plays ‘destructive role’ in Iraq, Syria and 12 other nations -- Middle East Monitor

What ISIS Will Do After Mosul Falls -- Colin Clarke, Defense One/The Atlantic

Assad is a long way from victory in Syrian conflict -- David Gardner, Financial Times

Assad's Control Erodes as Warlords Gain Upper Hand -- Fritz Schaap, Spiegel Online

Fight IS, start 'revolution': Why foreigners join Syria Kurds -- AFP

Al-Qaeda and Islamic State Take Aim at China -- The Diplomat

Gloves come off Kim Jong Un issues new threat as the U.S. begin assembling anti-missile system -- David Gilbert, VICE News

The broader implications of a restive North Korea -- Sholto Byrnes, National Interest

North Korea threat brings out Trump’s serious side -- Bruce Jones and Jonathan D. Pollack, Brookings

What Is THAAD? A $1.6 Billion US Weapon That’s Going to Korea – and Worrying China -- Ciro Scotti, Fiscal Times

French Insurgents Thrust Establishment Aside in Crucial Vote -- Gregory Viscusi, Bloomberg

Macedonia sinks deeper into post-election limbo -- Boryana Dzhamazova, Politico

WikiLeaks CIA files: Are they real and are they a risk? -- Stephen Braun, AP