Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- April 21, 2016

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN: Analysis: Afghanistan must recognize Taliban are winning

(CNN)It is a war of perception, you repeatedly hear: that the perception the Taliban are winning means the Taliban are winning.

There is some logic to this thesis, which is often heard from government and other Afghanistan officials in Kabul, in that those on the fence head to the winning side of the insurgency. Yet it begins to fall apart when the mantra overtakes the grasp on reality.

The Taliban do look a lot like they are winning. It is a grotesque slow grind, their pursuit of victory. Tuesday it claimed dozens of women and children as casualties in Kabul when a suicide truck bomb, so eager to attack a government VIP bodyguard service, detonated in a parking lot just behind its target. The death toll was stated at around 30 that day, and now, on Wednesday, it has reached 64, likely the deadliest attack the capital has seen since the Taliban were dislodged in 2001.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- April 21, 2016

Afghanistan is still our fight: The terrible Taliban attack in Kabul reminds us that America's current strategy isn't working -- Andrew Peek, New York Daily News

Obama acknowledges Syrian cease-fire 'may be breaking down' -- Nolan D. McCaskill, Politico

Obama sees another foreign policy goal crumble in Syria -- Nahal Toosi, Politico

How will US-Saudi relations continue in the post-Obama era? -- Sigurd Neubauer, Al Arabiya

The $2 Trillion Project to Get Saudi Arabia’s Economy Off Oil -- Peter Waldman, Bloomberg

Will Saudi Arabia and Iran ever get along? -- Bill Hess, Brookings

Chaos in Libya: The Rising ISIS Threat to Europe -- Constance Baroudos, National Interest

Disrupt ISIS’ Online Campaign in Africa -- David Fidler, Defense One/Council on Foreign Relations

The French town that lost 15 boys to jihad -- Claire Sergent and Katy Lee, Politico

America Can’t Do Much About ISIS -- Stephen Biddle and Jacob Shapiro, The Atlantic

Is China Ready for Taiwan's New Government? -- Emily S. Chen, National Interest

Ukraine: This Is Not the Orange Revolution -- Steven Keil, real Clear World

In new Ukraine, old clan ties propel 'boy' prime minister's rise -- Pavel Polityuk and Matthias Williams, Reuters

Protesters want to topple Macedonia’s government over a corruption investigation -- The Economist

Meet the Man Who Would Be Brazil’s Next President After Impeachment -- Matt Sandy, Time

28 pages: the controversy over Saudi Arabia and 9/11, explained -- Max Fisher, VOX

Cleaning Up the Dirty Bomb Threat -- Bloomberg editorial