Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 5, 2015

A Free Syrian Army fighter covers his ears as his fellow fighter fires a weapon during clashes with forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo, April 30, 2015. REUTERS/Hosam Katan

Noah Bonsey, Reuters: There will be no winners in Syria’s war, but there can be an end

Whatever the Assad regime and its opponents may think, no side is heading toward military victory in Syria. On its current trajectory the war will worsen, with the already devastating death toll accompanied by increasing trans-border radicalization and further destruction of the country’s social and urban fabric.

Such continued misery for Syrians will entail rising costs for the conflict’s principal external stakeholders — Iran and Russia in the regime’s camp, the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar on the side of the opposition. It is high time for state backers on each side to recognize that their adversaries are not headed toward capitulation, and to begin the difficult work of outlining an ultimate geopolitical resolution to end the war.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 25, 2015

Syria's Changing Strategic Landscape -- Robert G. Rabil, National Interest

Yemen could come to regret a messy divorce -- Faisal Al Yafai, The National

Abbas is old, Hamas divided: Who will lead Palestinians? -- Christa Case Bryant, CSM

“Madam Secretary” and the Real Iran Deal -- Robin Wright, New Yorker

China is making moves in Antarctica -- Jeremy Bender, Business Insider

Calls to Punish China Grow -- Josh Rogin, Bloomberg

U.S.-Japan: A Pacific Alliance Transformed -- Jeffrey W. Hornung, The Diplomat

U.S. to Nigeria: No Guns to Fight Boko Haram -- Philip Obaji Jr., The Daily Beast

"America has a simple ideology": how one of Russia's top US experts tries to explain America -- Max Fisher, VOX

Europe Gives $260 Billion For Anti-EU Greece But Balks At $65 Billion For Pro-Europe Ukraine -- Paul Roderick Gregory, Forbes

Germany Really, Really Likes Spying -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Intelligence Scandal Puts Merkel in Tight Place -- Spiegel Online

Do Military Members Killed in the Oklahoma City Bombing Deserve Purple Hearts? -- Polly Mosendz, Newsweek

Did ISIS Really Mastermind Texas Shooting? Experts Doubtful -- Noah Rayman, Time

I’ve Followed Warren Buffett for Decades and Keep Coming Back to These 10 Quotes -- William Green, Observer