Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 9, 2016

Ian Black, The Guardian: Syria war: neither political solution nor military victory are anywhere in sight

The chances of a diplomatic resolution are slim while Assad’s forces are far from victory – even with Russian help

Syria’s war is facing a critical few days as refugees stream from Aleppo towards the Turkish border and Russian airstrikes help Bashar al-Assad’s forces advance, with diplomatic moves still showing no sign of concrete measures to relieve the suffering of ordinary people.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 9, 2016

What the fall of Aleppo would mean for Syria and the world -- Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post

Aleppo siege spells doom for West's goals in Syria: analysts -- AFP

Aleppo's disaster and why it's so important for Syria's war, explained -- Zack Beauchamp, VOX

What Vladimir Putin is really up to in Syria -- Dennis Ross, L.A. Times

Russians lay siege to Obama's Syria strategy -- Nahal Toosi, Politico

Why the West is standing by amid Russia's campaign in Syria -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM

Why Obama fails the leadership test in the Middle East -- Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera

To counter Iranian rival, Saudi Arabia steps up Washington lobbying -- Taylor Luck, CSM

Afghanistan to Start Peace Talks With Taliban By the End of February -- Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat

Should the US just stay in Afghanistan? -- Anna Mulrine

China Pays the Price for North Korea's Belligerence -- Robert A. Manning, Atlantic Council

The Steady Trickle of Refugee Deaths in the Mediterranean -- Krishnadev Calamur, The Atlantic

Is the European project collapsing? -- Inside Story/Al Jazeera

Defusing the Third Space Race -- Michael Krepon, Project Syndicate

Is the Zika Panic Overblown? -- Abby Haglage, Daily Beast