Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- July 4, 2014

PHOTO: Members of the new Iraqi parliament attend a session at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad July 1, 2014. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

If Iraq Must Be Divided, Here’s The Right Way To Do It -- Michael O'Hanlon and Edward P. Joseph, Reuters

As Iraq spirals toward chaos and its Kurdish region talks independence, the issue of partition, or federalism, has resurfaced. This is a concept that then-Senator Joe Biden strongly advocated in 2006. Though it would be difficult to accomplish, federalism could still be a helpful element as Iraqis struggle through their current tragic mess.

The appeal of federalism could grow if Iraqi leaders in Baghdad cannot agree soon on a government of national unity, ideally one without Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has proven so divisive. Whether a “soft partition” — meaning the creation of a Sunni autonomous zone to complement the existing Kurdish one — or “hard partition” –meaning the formal redrawing of regional lines — it would seem a natural idea. Not only because of the recent violence, which has caused hundreds of thousands of Iraqis to flee their homes, but also the arbitrariness with which state borders were drawn by the European powers after World War One.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- July 4, 2014

ISIS: The New Taliban -- Ahmed Rashid, New York Review Of Books

ISIS poses threat beyond Iraq -- Dennis Ross, USA Today

Hamas smells Israel’s fear of escalation, and so the rockets keep coming -- Avi Issacharoff, The Times of Israel

4 reasons the situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories is so dangerous -- Adam Taylor, Washington Post

7 tweets that show the escalating tensions between Israelis and Palestinians -- Swati Sharma, Washington Post

With Kurdish Steps Towards Independence, Iraq Is Splitting Further Apart -- John Beck, Vice

The Kurdish push for independence is a big problem for Baghdad -- Dan Murphy, CSM

Saudi Arabia: Sandwiched by jihadists in Iraq and Yemen -- Frank Gardner, BBC

Asia Power Games: South Korea Hosts China, North Korea Deals On Japan -- Donald Kirk, Forbes

As South Korea and China get cozy, where does North Korea fit? -- Madison Park, CNN

Korean Peninsula a Dangerous Area for Diplomacy -- Andrew Soergel, US News and World Report

Purge Displays Chinese Leader's Ambition -- Gillian Wong, AP

Central Asia’s Energy Rush -- Michał Romanowski, The Diplomat

While U.S. focuses on Africa, Middle East, it's being outgunned in the Americas -- Marine Times

Recession Looms Again for France -- Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, Telegraph

World Cup quarterfinals revive old border wars -- Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post

Ebola epidemic: Global responsibility? -- Inside Story/Al Jazeera