Commentaries, Analysis, And Commentaries -- January 17, 2017

Ria Novosti / Kremlin / Alexei Druzhinin / Reuters

Mark Galeotti, The Atlantic: The Spies Who Love Putin

How the FSB's loyalty to Russia's president made it the country's most powerful intelligence agency

It’s tempting to look to the playbooks and historical traditions of the late Soviet Union to explain the audacity of today’s Russian intelligence activity, from its meddling in U.S. elections, to apparently killing Kremlin opponents abroad. But these activities are not just products of old ways or new geopolitics. They also stem from a shift in the activities of Russia’s political police force, the infamous Federal Security Service (FSB). Originally established to protect the Kremlin’s rule at home, it has increasingly moved into Russia’s foreign operations. A new cohort of secret policemen, ignorant of the traditions of spycraft and secure in Putin’s protection, has fundamentally altered the nature of Russian intelligence.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Commentaries -- January 17, 2017

Putin's revenge -- Kristina Spohr and David Reynolds, Statesman

Inside the belly of Russia's 'propaganda machine': A visit to RT news channel -- Fred Weir, CSM

Putin, Obama — and Trump -- Victor Hanson, NRO

Was Istanbul’s Terror Attack State-Sponsored? -- Roy Gutman, Daily Beast

As peace talks loom, Syrian refugees see little future in going home -- Nicholas Blanford, CSM

China's Yuan Woes Get Worse -- Christopher Balding, Bloomberg

As US looks inward, China seeks a lead role on world stage -- AP

Analysis: Iran’s game plan in Afghanistan -- Hassan Dai, Special to Al Arabiya

Trump and Afghanistan: The Unwelcome Obligation -- The Diplomat

Once a Caribbean Success Story, Trinidad and Tobago Faces an Uncertain Future -- Robert Looney, WPR

Why Europe became a baby -- John Lloyd, Reuters

Ukraine's Survival Strategy for the Trump Era -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Disunity and Impotence at the United Nations -- Spiegel Online

Explaining Donald Trump to the Unsettled Global Elites At Davos -- Christopher Dickey, Daily Beast

Pentagon readies aggressive ISIS proposals for Trump -- Barbara Starr, CNN