Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 2, 2015

Ruth Margalit, Slate: Why Does Bibi Do It?

The real reason Netanyahu is willing to risk Israel’s relationship with the U.S.

World leaders have long racked up points at home for being antagonistic toward the United States. Hugo Chavez called Barack Obama “a clown” and “an embarrassment.” Vladimir Putin routinely riles against American hypocrisy. Evo Morales has blasted “North American imperialism.” Their approval ratings soared. In Israel, however, this was never the case. Historically, Israel’s bond with the U.S. has always been its most valued strategic asset. Even as relations between the countries’ leaders frayed in recent years, Israelis have been steadfast in their belief that America has their back. Asked this past December about the importance of the country’s relations with the U.S., 96 percent of Israelis deemed it extremely important

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 2, 2015

Obama: Dispute with Netanyahu not personal -- David Jackson, USA Today

Foreign talks to Congress often a yawn, but not Netanyahu’s -- Connie Cass, Salon/Associated Press

Netanyahu’s dicey bet -- Jackson Diehl, Washington Post

What Netanyahu Won't Tell Congress -- Bloomberg editorial

Netanyahu, Iran, and what he wants out of his speech to Congress -- Dan Murphy, CSM

On Iran: It’s Not about the Bomb, It’s about the Strategy -- John Hillen, NRO

Iran's Leaders Are Not Suicidal -- Peter Beinhart, The Atlantic

The Costs of Rapprochement with Iran -- Michael Weiss, NOW

Iran's Shah Wanted Nukes, Too -- James Gibney, Bloomberg

How Islamic is Islamic State group? Not very, experts say -- Lee Keath and Hamza Hendawi, AP

The U.S. Anti-ISIS Strategy’s True Cost -- Aymenn Al-Tamimi, Daily Beast

Fighting ISIS for Saddam's Hometown -- Adam Chandler, The Atlantic

With new confidence, Turkey's Erdogan seeks to expand his influence -- Alexander Christie-Miller, CSM

China and Russia vs. the United States? -- Huiyun Feng, The Diplomat

Conspiracies Swirl Over Moscow Murder -- Jake Rudnitsky, Bloomberg

The Boris Nemtsov Murder Conspiracy Theories -- Catherine A. Fitzpatrick, The Daily Beast/The Interpreter

What would the Dow look like if it included Apple? -- Rodrigo Campos and Chuck Mikolajczak, Reuters