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

J. Weston Phippen, The Atlantic: Iran’s Message on a Missile

The country has test-fired several long-range missiles this week, which may be in violation of a United Nations resolution.

Iran has test-fired several missiles in the past two days that are believed to have the long-range capability to hit Israel, and at least one of rockets included a message in Hebrew that read, “Israel must be wiped out,” according to state media.

After the first round of tests on Tuesday, U.S. officials suggested the action may have violated a United Nations resolution and said they would raise the issue at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Missile tests carried out on Wednesday came as Vice President Joe Biden visited with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who strongly opposed the U.S.-led Iran nuclear deal that took effect at the end of January. That deal eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for more international oversight of the country’s nuclear program. During his visit in Israel, Biden tried to assure those skeptical of the nuclear deal that if Iran violated the terms of the agreement, there would be consequences. “I want to reiterate, as I know people still doubt, if in fact they break the deal, we will act.”

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

Bosnia as a Model for Securing Syria -- Edward P. Joseph & Michael O'Hanlon, National Interest

Analysts: Inaction Strengthens IS in Libya -- Heather Murdock, VOA

Turkey Is Now a Democracy in Name Only -- Micah Halpern, Observer

The EU is ‘scared of pissing off’ Erdoğan -- Alex Spence, Politico

Why Israel needs Putin more than it needs Erdogan -- Ben Caspit, Al-Monitor

The Complex History Of The Taliban Peace Talks -- Task & Purpose

Have sanctions against North Korea worked? -- Inside Story/Al Jazeera

Maybe South Korea Needs Its Own Nuclear Weapon -- Doug Bandow, Huffington Post

Why the United States might send bombers to Australia -- Christina Beck, CSM

The Fraying of the U.S.-Thailand Alliance -- Joshua Kurlantzick, Council on Foreign Relations

Cameron’s Moment of Truth -- Matthew D’Ancona, NYT

Trudeau hits reset on U.S. relations -- Lawrence Martin, The Globe and Mail

Trump Embraces Ex-Top Obama Intel Official -- Shane Harris & Nancy Youssef, Daily Beast

Why America could (probably) survive a President Trump -- Peter Apps, Reuters

Three Minutes to Midnight: Closer to Nuclear Conflict -- David Barno and Nora Bensahel, War on the Rocks

Energy Wars of Attrition -- Michael Klare, Tom Dispatch