Monday, March 10, 2014

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- March 10, 2014



Russia Hints It Will Accept Annexation As Crimean Referendum Nears -- Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor

Russia's parliament is reportedly preparing legislation to make it easier for breakaway states to willingly join Russia – even as the legality of Crimean secession remains in doubt.

The prospects for a diplomatic solution to what some are calling Europe's worst crisis of the 21st century are growing dimmer by the day, with less than a week to go before Crimeans are set to vote on whether to leave Ukraine and join Russia.

The Mar. 16 referendum would offer Crimeans the option of either becoming part of Russia, or declaring their territory an independent state that's still formally part of Ukraine. But Crimea's pro-Russian legislature is already preparing a "roadmap" for joining Russia, including adopting the Russian rouble, dropping Ukrainian as an official language, and moving their clocks two hours forward to Moscow time.

Now Russia is signaling that it might be willing to take the unprecedented and politically explosive step of admitting Crimea into Russia, perhaps as an "autonomous republic" as it was in Ukraine.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Why a Crimean Enclave Is Trouble -- Michael Moran, Real Clear World/Global Post

Beyond Ukraine: Russia's Imperial Mess -- Spiegel Online

Western leaders cannot face a ‘looming’ war. So I guess they'll patch something up - and let Russia gobble part of Ukraine -- Robert Fisk, The Independent

What does Russia want and why? -- Ivan Krastev, Russia in Global Affairs

How to Justify Russian Aggression -- Michael Moynihan, Daily Beast

Meanwhile in Siberia: A Case for More Autonomy in Russia's Far East -- Vladislav Inozemtsev, Real Clear World/Worldcrunch

We Christians Live in Fear in Syria -- Antoine Audo, Daily Telegraph

Understanding Karzai: Building NATO’s strategy bridge in Afghanistan -- The Barefoot Strategist in The Bridge

How Pakistan moves against Taliban could complicate Afghan ties -- Frederic Grare, Special to CNN

Why Pakistan Can't Defeat the Taliban -- Sushant Sareen, Real Clear World

Mexico’s new friend: Castro’s Cuba -- Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald

Take a pill, Canada, Quebec isn’t in the mood for a referendum -- Nicolas Van Praet, National Post Staff

The Reckoning: The father of the Sandy Hook killer searches for answers. -- Andrew Solomon, New Yorker

American Power Is Waning Because Washington Won't Stop Quarreling -- Francis Fukuyama, New Republic

Who travels with a stolen passport? -- Katia Hetter and Karla Cripps, CNN

No comments: