Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 14, 2016

Christopher Dickey, Daily Beast: Jakarta, Paris, San Bernardino: The Age of ‘Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attacks

They may not be an ‘existential threat,’ but attacks like the ones that hit Indonesia have been changing how we live.
While America slept, terrorists struck in Jakarta on Thursday, and their multi-pronged attack hit, most dramatically, a symbol of the United States: a Starbucks coffee shop.

Despite bombs going off, a hostage taking, and an extended gunfight with Indonesian police around Thamrin Street (near several embassies, luxury hotels, and the offices of the United Nations), casualties were fairly low by the standards of modern terrorism. Initial reports say seven people died, including five attackers, which would seem both a credit to the response of the Indonesian authorities and a reflection of the killers’ ineptitude.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 14, 2016

Jakarta Attack Raises Fears of ISIS’ Spread in Southeast Asia -- Joe Cochrane and Thomas Fuller, NYT

Iran's capture of US sailors shows how it is acting better – and worse (+video) -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM

Iran will slap us again after Obama’s pathetic response to sailor incident -- New York Post editorial

Kerry Thanks Iran for Resolving the Crisis It Created -- Eli Lake, Bloomberg

Joe Scarborough's Twitter meltdown is everything wrong with how we talk about Iran -- Max Fisher, VOX

Saudi Arabia: Palace Intrigue at a Time of Transition -- Reva Bhalla, Stratfor

Putin Looks for Regime Change in Turkey -- Ivan Krastev, Bloomberg

China Enables North Korean Mischief -- Joseph Bosco, RCW

North Korea Turns More Erratic as Kim's Inner Circle Shrinks -- Sam Kim, Bloomberg

Will South Korea Rethink Its Nuke Policy? -- Gordon G. Chang, World Affairs

Japan’s Emperor to Make Historic Philippines Visit -- Prashanth Parameswaran, The Diplomat

Why India and Pakistan Agreed to Delay Scheduled Talks -- Ankit Panda, The Diplomat

Iran and Saudi Arabia are critical to oil, but don't ignore this OPEC 'wild card' -- Elena Holodny, Business Insider

Five years after the Tunisian revolution -- Laryssa Chomiak, Washington Post

Sweden's Foreign Minister Misunderstands International Law -- Noah Feldman, Bloomberg

America May Have Unlocked a Key to Fighting Terrorism -- and It Doesn't Involve Drones -- Matthew Levitt, Washington Institute

Get Tough on Drones Before People Die -- Clive Irving, Daily Beast