Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 3, 2015

Phillip Inman, The Guardian: A decade of overspending: how Greece plunged into economic crisis

Athens was poorly prepared for the 2008 crash - living off easy credit, while spending on wages and defence soared, and taxes began to fall away

How did Greece get into this state?

Greece was badly prepared for the 2008 financial crisis after a decade of overspending. In many ways, the weakness of its economy and public finances was akin to that of Spain, Ireland and Portugal, which also found themselves brutally exposed after 10 years of living beyond their means. Greece, though, was a special case, which was why in 2010 it became the first EU country to send a distress signal. Since then, Athens has struggled to piece together a deal with its lenders that allows the economy to recover.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 3, 2015

How the Greeks ‘Ate’ Their Way to Ruin -- Nick Romeo, Daily Beast

If Greece is ejected from the euro zone, it faces a chaotic currency switch -- Michael Birnbaum and Anthony Faiola, Washington Post

Yes or no? What Greece's landmark vote might bring -- Pan Pylas, AP

The Gateway to ISIS’s Caliphate: Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here -- Yusuf Sayman, Daily Beast

Is ISIL winning the psychological battle? -- Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, Al Jazeera

On the management and expansion of savagery -- Dan Murphy, CSM

Will Turkey really invade northern Syria? -- Mahir Zeynalov, Al Arabiya

Egypt’s Self-Inflicted Slaughter -- Ruth Michaelson, Daily Beast

Who is behind the attacks in Egypt? -- Abdulrahman al-Rashed, Al Arabiya

Jihadi dread in the Sinai -- Adiv Sterman, Times of Israel

North Africa: Analysis - the Islamic State Is Coming for North Africa -- AllAfrica

The South China Sea is now a 'core interest' of Beijing — and that's a problem for its neighbors -- Christopher Woody, Business Insider

Goodbye Washington, hello Moscow? Saudi Arabia finds friendly face in Putin. -- Fred Weir, CSM

Choosing the Enemy in Cold War 2.0 -- Michael Klare, Real Clear World

Could Iran's Hardliners Derail a Nuclear Deal? -- Kathy Gilsinan, The Atlantic