Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 23, 2017

Stratfor: A Fiercer Fight to Come in Mosul

Four months into the campaign to reclaim Mosul from the Islamic State, Iraqi troops have taken the city's eastern portion. But the fight for the western part is only just beginning. Western Mosul is the core of the Islamic State's resistance. An estimated 2,000 Islamic State fighters are still in the area, along with more than 750,000 civilians, some of whom are suspected sympathizers of the extremist group. On top of that, the dense, cramped quarters of western Mosul's Old City will present an urban warfare environment even more challenging than that of the eastern part of the city, which took three months to clear. The fight for western Mosul is a critical turning point in the operation to retake the city, and it promises to be the most grueling battle yet.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 23, 2017

What the Hell Is Going on in Syria? -- Charles Pierce, Esquire

Will Iran Go To War? Tehran Wraps Up Military Drills Amid Tensions With US -- Vishakha Sonawane, IBTimes

Will the US fight for oil in the South China Sea? -- Wesley Rahn, DW

Is China finally losing patience with North Korea? Let's hope so -- Globe and Mail editorial

Analysis: As China ups heat on North Korea, U.S. faces questions -- AP

Are sanctions against North Korea working? (Video) -- Inside Story Al Jazeera

Lake Chad Basin: World's most neglected crisis rages on -- Winnie Byanyima, Al Jazeera

The Lake Chad region: 'Africa's most acute crisis' -- AFP

Why Belarus Can't Afford to Be the New Ukraine -- Nikolay Pakhomov, National Interest

Take It from a European: NATO Is Obsolete -- Tom Sauer, National Interest

Is NATO Debasing Its Standards for Montenegro? -- Tomas Liutkus. RCW

Venezuela’s economic crisis is so dire that most people have lost an average of 19 pounds -- Zeeshan Aleem, VOX

Analysis: In Venezuela, short on food, short of hope -- AP

Intelligence and the Trump Administration -- Frank Archibald, Cipher Brief

Trump's open door Oval Office -- Annie Karni, Politico

Trade grows—without the U.S. -- Parag Khanna, Politico