Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- April 13, 2015

Lauren Williams, Real Clear World: Lowy Institute: Iraq Now: Brutal Sectarianism and Iranian Domination

Once again in the Middle East, short term gains are trumping long term interests. As the ink dries on the Iran nuclear deal, the bodies are piling up in neighbouring Iraq. Many of them are the bodies of Sunni civilians, killed by Shiite militias backed by Iran and allied to the Iraqi Government in the battle against ISIS.

Reports of reprisal attacks against Sunnis by Shiite militias are mounting. Human Rights Watch issued a report in February claiming 'Residents have been forced from their homes, kidnapped, and in some cases summarily executed'. HRW is investigating allegations of a massacre of some 72 civilians in the town of Barwana by militias and SWAT forces. Disturbing videos have circulated on social media of what appear to be Shiite militia members brutalising and torturing apparently Sunni adversaries in response to ISIS attacks.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- April 13, 2015

Hamas Prepares Its Next War on Israel -- Tom Wilson, Real Clear World

Revealed: China's Reasons for Island-Building in the South China Sea -- Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat

Who will rule in Afghanistan, the strongmen protecting from the Taliban, or the technocrats trained by the West? -- Sudarsan Raghavan, Washington Post

Years after the famine, here’s how North Koreans really get by -- James Pearson and Daniel Tudor, Reuters

A New U.S. Grand Strategy towards China -- Robert D. Blackwill and Ashley J. Tellis, National Interest

‘Illegitimate’ Sudan Elections Could Escalate Conflict -- Conor Gaffey, Newsweek

Pope's genocide comments spark indifference, frustration among Turks -- Tuvan Gumruku and Ece Toksabay, Reuters

How Vladimir Putin’s skewed view of World War Two threatens his neighbors and the West -- Lucian Kim, Reuters

Do Ukraine's new nationalist laws justify Kremlin's criticism? -- Fred Weir, CSM

Why Greece Should Consider a Eurozone ‘Grexit’ -- Patrick Smith, Fiscal Times

Obama’s deceptions on Iran and Cuba -- Marc A. Thiessen, Washington Post

After Historic Cuba Meeting, Obama Has Hurdle of Delivering -- Angela Greiling Keane, Bloomberg

Obama-Castro handshake: What it means, and what it doesn't -- Mark Sappenfield, CSM

The end of the BRICs -- Gwynne Dyer, Korea Times

Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil -- Peter Waldman, Bloomberg