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

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

David A. Graham, The Atlantic: ISIS in America

News that Tashfeen Malik pledged allegiance to ISIS likely explains what motivated the San Bernardino attackers—but it raises other questions.

Authorities say ISIS has made it to America.

Multiple news organizations reported Friday morning that Tashfeen Malik, one of the two shooters in Wednesday’s massacre in San Bernardino, California, pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, on Facebook in the midst of the attack.

Assuming the report holds true, it likely answers one central question about what motivated the attackers, Malik and her husband Syed Rizwan Farook: an allegiance to the fanatical Islamist group. But it raises many more questions. What does it mean for ISIS to take action in the United States? Is this different from other lone-wolf-style attacks in the United States? Who counts as part of ISIS? Did the couple have any material ties or instructions to the self-proclaimed Islamic State? And can attacks like this ever be stopped?

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

Will Iran play peacemaker between Russia, Turkey? -- Arash Karami (Al-Monitor)

A Tangled Web: Russia, Turkey and Central Asia -- Catherine Putz, The Diplomat

'Nobody Wants to See Tens of Thousands of US Troops' on Iraqi Soil -- Sputnik

Putin and Netanyahu: Minds alike over Syrian skies -- Geoffrey Aronson, Al Jazeera

Where Do Israeli Interests Fit in the Russia-Turkey-Syria Puzzle? -- Sean Savage / JNS.org

Containing Iran -- Allison Melia, The Cipher

Is Saudi Arabia heading towards an abyss? -- Ehsan Ahrari, Middle East Monitor

Interview with Afghan President Ghani: 'I Have To Hold Our Country Together' -- Spiegel Online

Middle Powers Hedge against China -- Andrew O'Neil, Lowy Institute

The Logic Behind China's Military Reforms -- Mu Chunshan, The Diplomat

The next battleground in the U.S.-China power struggle -- Peter Marino, Reuters

Moscow Must Avoid Shadow War With Ankara -- Mark Galeotti, Moscow Times

Vladimir Putin targets Turkey first, terror second in state-of-Russia speech -- Lucian Kim, Reuters

Putin Looks Homeward, Hates What He Sees -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Germany’s political crisis -- E.J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post

Venezuela: Economy on the brink? -- Daniel Gallas, BBC