Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 28, 2016

Michael J. Totten, World Affairs: History Returns to Europe

The British decision to leave the European Union is the most momentous event across the Atlantic since NATO bombed Belgrade.

If I lived in the United Kingdom, I would have voted to Remain in the EU, but it’s not hard to see why the majority voted to Leave. I wouldn’t want the United States to join the EU for the same reasons the Brexiters want out of it.

The EU is a brilliant idea. Unite splendidly diverse yet like-minded nations into a powerful bloc that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Provide minimum standards and guidelines for countries that aren’t as advanced (such as Greece and Romania). Pull down trade barriers and do business in a common market. Open up job opportunities and leg-stretching room for all. (I wouldn’t want to be confined to a place as cramped as Belgium for the rest of my life, but I’m one of those cosmopolitan “elites” everyone likes to complain about nowadays.)

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 28, 2016

The Refugee Question: Is Merkel To Blame for Brexit? -- Jan Fleischhauer, Spiegel Online

Brexit - the chaos that will be felt around the world -- John Lloyd, Reuters

Here Are 3 Crazy Scenarios In Which Brexit Doesn’t Happen -- Chris Matthews, Fortune

For Russians, Brexit elicits schadenfreude, but also worry -- Fred Weir, CSM

Why Turkey is mending ties with old foes -- Galip Dalay, Al Jazeera

Leaked Salaries Cast Iran Officials In Harsh Light, But To What End? -- Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE

Why Iranians are turning against Leonardo DiCaprio -- Zahra Alipour, Al-Monitor

The Celebrities Who Sell Iran's War in Syria -- Varujean Avanessian, National Interest

The Reluctant Memoirist: An investigative journalist returns from an undercover mission in North Korea—only to face her critics. -- Suki Kim, New Republic

President Ashraf Ghani is an expert on failed states. Can he save his country from collapse? -- George Packer, New Yorker

All Not Quiet on NATO’s Eastern Front -- Andrew Michta, Carnegie

Can Ukraine Afford Its Military? -- Samuel Bendett, Real Clear World

Russia and America: Destined for Conflict? -- Dimitri K. Simes, National Interest

How a French woman became a Colombian rebel -- Lise Josefsen Hermann, VICE News

Oil Is Still Heading to $10 a Barrel -- A. Gary Shilling, Bloomberg