Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- February 15, 2011

PEACE TIP - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Clint Koerperich, left, patrols with Afghan soldiers to investigate possible insurgent cache locations in the Zormat district of Afghanistan, Feb. 5, 2011. Koerperich is assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment. The soldiers acted on a tip provided by the Guardians of Peace program, which rewards Afghan citizens who provide useful and actionable intelligence to Afghan and coalition forces. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Smith

The Unnoticed Surge In Afghan Security -- William B. Caldwell IV, Chicago Tribune

A little known but potentially decisive story developing in Afghanistan is the "surge of Afghans," that is, how Afghan men and women have swelled the ranks of the Afghan National Security Forces to levels more than double the U.S. surge.

Since Dec. 1, 2009, when President Barack Obama announced the surge of 30,000 U.S. troops, more than 79,000 Afghans have committed to serve their country. Over the past year, these young Afghans have put their lives at risk volunteering to serve their country. In a little over a year, the Afghan National Security Forces has grown to more than 270,000 from 191,000, a 42 percent expansion. The Afghan National Army increased by 57 percent to more than 152,000 from 97,000.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Now Iran feels the heat -- Kaveh L Afrasiabi, Asia Times

The perils of 'stability,' Europe edition -- Cameron Abadi, Foreign Policy

UN urges Cambodia-Thailand cease-fire, but will it happen? -- Christian Science Monitor
Temple of Doom -- Newsweek

The Chinese Force Obama's Hand -- Steve McCann, American Thinker

The Misleading Metaphor of U.S. Decline -- Joseph Nye, Real Clear World

Fine Gael banking strategy in meltdown -- Fintan O'Toole, Irish Times

A Leg Up: World's Largest Cities No Longer Homes of Upward Mobility -- Joel Kotkin, New Geography

Commentaries, Opinions, And Analysis On The U.S. Defense Budget

Navy Budgets -- Information Dissemination
Is the Pentagon’s Drone Spending Spree Over? -- The Danger Room
Pentagon’s 2012 Budget Makes Highly Optimistic Assumptions About ‘Efficiency’ Savings -- National Defense
Why Pentagon budget cuts might not be as impressive as they sound -- Christian Science Monitor
The Mighty Military Budget -- Joshua Green, The Atlantic
The Defense Department won the future, or at least the budget -- Ezra Klein, Washington Post
Why is Obama cutting the Pentagon's budget? -- Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post
Budget May Be Safe For Now, But Weapon Makers Should Worry -- Sandra I. Erwin, National Defense
Americans Remain Divided on Defense Spending -- Gallop

Commentaries, Opinions, And Analysis On Egypt

Can Egypt's military meet people's demands? -- BBC
Israel deputy PM: changes in Egypt not over yet -- Washington Post
Where now for Egypt and the region? -- The Economist
Will Radical Extremists Rise to Power in Egypt? -- Hannity/FOX News
Muslim Brotherhood: Wild Card In Egypt Power Game -- Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR
Former Islamic Radical on Egypt and Muslim Brotherhood -- FOX News
Interview: Barry Rubin Says Muslim Brotherhood 'Not A Moderate Group' -- Radio Free Europe
Egypt's Army Could Fail Democracy -- Reuel Marc Gerecht, NPR/Weekly Standard