Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- July 11, 2014

Kerry In Afghanistan Trying To Avert A Presidential Crisis, But Will Abdullah budge? -- Ali M. Latifi, CSM

Secretary of State John Kerry is trying to broker a deal to prevent outright conflict over Afghanistan's disputed presidential election. But there are signs that Abdullah Abdullah, who claims fraud stole the presidency from him, is digging in.

Bamiyan, Afghanistan — Secretary of State John Kerry was in Kabul today for a series of talks with President Hamid Karzai and other Afghan politicians, trying to head off a crisis over Mr. Karzai's successor.

But while the US has substantial leverage – the government relies on foreign aid, the lion's share from the US, for all its functions – one of the two men at the center of the showdown over the presidential election has been giving signs he won't budge.

Abdullah Abdullah is that man, and he's been here before.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- July 11, 2014

In Afghanistan, Third Round of Elections or a Coup -- Ioannis Koskinas, Foreign Policy

Kerry Must Let the Afghan Voters Choose Their Next President -- Zardasht Shams, Daily Beast

As Hamas takes on Israel, not all in Gaza are cheering -- Ahmed Aldabba & Christa Case Bryant, CSM

The Next Generation of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict -- Jeff Moskowitz, The Atlantic

Why Does Hamas Want War? -- Daniel Pipes, NRO

Why Israel Must Destroy Hamas -- Seth Cropsey, Real Clear Defense

Hamas is the New Lesser of Evils -- Michael Totten, World Affairs

Israel's 'Iron Dome' changes the face of battle -- Aaron Heller, AP

Five Myths About The Gaza Crisis -- Aaron David Miller, Washington Post

Kurds on Iraq's new faultline feel destiny beckoning -- Luke Harding, The Guardian

As Kurds seize Iraq oil fields, independence push exposes divisions -- Mohammed A. Salih, CSM

Obama caves to conventional wisdom on Syria -- Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post

The Strange Case of Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian Pilot -- Simon Shuster, Time

Putin's Failing Ukraine Scorecard -- Paul Roderick Gregory, Forbes

Obama’s counterterrorism blueprint looks good, on paper -- David Ignatius, Washington Post

President Obama needs to push for a law change to address crisis on the border -- Washington Post editorial