Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 19, 2015

Noah Feldman, Bloomberg: Iran Deal Is Shaping the Iraq War

Iraq's prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, is taking severe steps to rid himself of his troublesome predecessor, Nuri al-Maliki. On the heels of a government shakeup, the latest move is a parliamentary report blaming Maliki and many of his political and military leaders for the fall of Mosul to Islamic State last summer. The report is going to be referred to a public prosecutor -- which means Abadi may be plotting a criminal prosecution. Maliki is fighting back, issuing a public statement repudiating the report.

Given that Maliki had more domestic support than Abadi when the U.S., with grudging Iranian acquiescence, forced Maliki out of office, it’s no surprise that Abadi would like to consolidate his authority by purging Maliki completely.

But beyond an interest in the Byzantine manipulations of Iraqi politics, why should the rest of the world care about Abadi’s move or Maliki’s displacement?

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 19, 2015

It Will Cost $3 Million a Month to Keep Inspecting Iran. Who Pays? -- Lucy Westcott, Newsweek

After Iran, Is North Korea Next? -- John Feffer, Foreign Policy in Focus

Why are the Arabs stuck with Abadi, Sisi, Aoun and Abbas? -- Hussain Abdul-Hussain, NOW

A Bangkok bombing will roil Thai politics -- Economist

Erawan bomber must be caught -- Veera Prateepchaikul, Bangkok Post

The US is needed to battle terror in Afghanistan -- Aimal Faizi, Al Jazeera

Russia, China and Pakistan: An Emerging New Axis? -- Joy Mitra, The Diplomat

China Wants Great Power, Not Great Responsibility -- William Pesek, Bloomberg

China's Crisis: The Price of Change -- Rodger Baker, Stratfor

Putin’s Russia and Africa -- Eugene Steinberg, Bloomberg

Enough Is Enough: Pakistan Needs to Change Its Approach to Afghanistan -- Aziz Amin Ahmadzai, The Diplomat

If Venezuela Implodes, Will Its Neighbors Be Ready? -- Bloomberg editorial

The Questionable Legality of Military Aid to Egypt -- New York Times editorial

Trump Is Right: Time to get Tough on China -- Liz Peek, Fiscal Times

The Double-Dip Oil Rout -- Michael Klare, Real Clear World/Tom Dispatch

Is Donald Trump an American Putin? -- David Ignatius, Washington Post

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