Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- September 9, 2014

A President Whose Assurances Have Come Back to Haunt Him -- Peter Baker, New York Times

WASHINGTON — When President Obama addresses the nation on Wednesday to explain his plan to defeat Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria, it is a fair bet he will not call them the “JV team.”

Nor does he seem likely to describe Iraq as “sovereign, stable and self-reliant” with a “representative government.” And presumably he will not assert after more than a decade of conflict that “the tide of war is receding.”

As he seeks to rally Americans behind a new military campaign in the Middle East, Mr. Obama finds his own past statements coming back to haunt him. Time and again, he has expressed assessments of the world that in the harsh glare of hindsight look out of kilter with the changed reality he now confronts.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- September 9, 2014

Behind Islamic State's advance: 'sophisticated, patient and focused' plans -- Wyatt Olson, Stars and Stripes

Can Obama build a real anti-ISIS coalition? -- CBS/AP

Obama’s strategy towards Isis -- Financial Times

Obama's Islamic State strategy: what he'll discuss with congressional leaders -- Francine Kiefer, CSM

Why White House and Congress don’t want vote on military action -- Paul Waldman, Washington Post

To Defeat ISIL, Empower Sunni Iraqis and Syrians -- Paul Scharre, War On The Rocks

Iraq Approves New Unity Government, Sets the Stage for Combatting ISIS -- Per Liljas, Time

Amid epic destruction, weary Gaza struggles to rebuild -- Christa Case Bryant, CSM

Israel appropriated 1,000 acres of the West Bank. Why now? -- Dimi Reider, Reuters

A billion Africans under 18 by mid-century: More jobs, or more angry youth? -- Diptesh Soni, CSM

China's Next Major Mess-Up: Hong Kong's Future -- Robert Keatley, National Interest

Japan, Germany shake off WWII arms constraints. A cause for concern? -- Peter Ford, CSM

Why the world should care about Scottish independence -- Mike Peacock, Reuters

Why Does Scotland Want Independence? It’s Culture vs. Economics -- Neil Irwin, NYT

How Does The British Military Split With An Independent Scotland? -- Christopher Harress, IBTimes

Mexico’s Dubious Reforms -- Enrique Krauze, NYT

'His Father Had Lied to Us': German Doctor Shares Harrowing Ebola Encounter -- Spiegel Online

Alibaba is coming: meet the Chinese Internet giant that outsells Amazon -- Peter Ford, CSM