Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- October 2, 2015

Max Hastings, Daily Mail: Why the West MUST do business with Putin: Yes, the Russian leader's a thug who's run rings round Europe and America. But MAX HASTINGS controversially argues we can't beat ISIS without him

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is the architect of repression at home, sponsor of the mass-murdering President Assad of Syria abroad. He provided rebels in Ukraine with the missiles that 14 months ago murdered 298 innocent people aboard Malaysian airlines Flight MH17.

Yet this week, Putin received a respectful hearing for a keynote speech at the United Nations. He followed up by snatching the military initiative from the West in Syria, committing Russian warplanes to strikes allegedly against ISIS Islamists, but quite likely against mere foes of his client Assad.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- October 2, 2015

Who's fighting in the complex Syrian war? -- AP

Russians see their Syria foray as lonely stand for future of civilization -- Matthew Schofield, McClatchy News

Putin Has His Own No-Fly Zone in Syria -- Josh Rogin, Bloomberg

Russia's Quick Jump Into Syria Leaves Obama With Few Options -- Margaret Talev & Nicole Gaouette, Bloomberg

Obama’s Syria debacle -- Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post

Why the West hopes Russia will avoid another Afghanistan -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM

Is Israel's military option is back on the table -- Ron Ben-Yishai, YNet News

The Middle East Meltdown and Global Risk -- Nouriel Roubini, Project Syndicate

What the Taliban surge means for China, the U.S., Afghanistan -- Eltaf Najafizada and Unni Krishnan, Chicago Tribune/Bloomberg

UN leaders agree on how to defeat ISIS. Doing it is the hard part -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM

How Afghanistan can succeed -- Hamdullah Mohib, CNN

Xi Furthers China’s Great Power Case at UN -- Shaun Breslin, Chatham house

Is Libya Headed for Another Qaddafi? -- Frederic Wehrey, NYT

South Sudan: The million-strong refugee crisis no one is talking about -- Amber Nasrulla, Daily Brew

'Who will pay for that?' - migrants clog east Europe trade routes -- Ivana Sekularac and gergely szakacs, Reuters

Trump Explains What Would Get Him Out of the Presidential Race -- Eric Pianin, Fiscal Times