Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- October 1, 2015

Alex Thomson, Channel 4: Syria: why this is not the start of World War Three

So the Russians and Americans are now bombing Syria, and the Russians are bombing the very rebels the US gives military aid to, and that’s a proxy war, and it’s knife-edge, and it could cause a Third World War, and…and…and…

Whoah! Calm down.

Pour yourself a large mug of something warm and soothing. Deep breaths. Now have a look at this. Your five-point guide to what the Russians are doing and why Third World Wars and proxy wars are as fanciful in Syria as they were in Ukraine..

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- October 1, 2015

These 5 Facts Explain Putin’s War in Syria -- Ian Bremmer, Time

Putin Hijacks Obama’s War on ISIS -- Shane Harris, Daily Beast

Will Putin save Syria's Assad? -- Inside Story/Al Jazeera

Syria, Obama and Putin -- Thomas Friedman, NYT

Turkey’s president is destabilizing the nation in his quest for more power -- Washington Post editorial

Mahmoud Abbas Gives Up on Peace -- New York Times editorial

No, the Palestinians didn't just cancel the peace process. Here's what actually happened. -- Zack Beauchamp, VOX

Kunduz and the Many Failures in Afghanistan -- Ershad Ahmadi, NYT

Obama's Self-Fulfilling Prophecy in Afghanistan -- Eli Lake, Bloomberg

A Glimmer of Hope for Afghanistan -- Bloomberg editorial

Kashmir: Potentially Back With a Bang -- Ali Ahmed, The Diplomat

How corrupt is South Africa? -- Inside Story/Al Jazeera

Can Ukraine Be the New Georgia? -- L. Todd Wood, The Compass

The War of Amazon, Apple and Other Near-Monopolies -- Megan McArdle, Bloomberg

IMF: World Set for Emerging Market Mass Default -- Chan, Telegraph