Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 11, 2017

A member of the Iraqi rapid response forces points at an airstrike during clashes with Islamic State fighters at a front line in northwest Mosul, Iraq, May 9, 2017. (photo by REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui)

Shelly Kittleson, Al-Monitor: Why liberating Mosul won't lead to the end of IS

BAGHDAD — Although Islamic State (IS) fighters in western Mosul are cornered within a steadily shrinking area that is expected to be retaken soon, analysts warn that the fight against the group in the country is far from over.

Hisham al-Hashimi, one of Iraq’s most widely respected security and terrorism experts, told Al-Monitor that the transnational terrorist group “has not yet fought at its maximum strength” and has left only a “hindering” force in Mosul, which was previously known as the group’s capital in Iraq.

He claims that many IS members are unknown by name to Iraqi intelligence and that documents found in recaptured areas of Mosul show that IS’ “hidden” men are referred to in their own records using only numbers and no names, making it likely that many have simply melted into the population and will not be flagged during screening procedures.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 11, 2017

Is Iraq prepared for the day after ISIS in Mosul? -- Paul Iddon, RUDAW

Despite heavy losses, ISIL’s structures remain resilient -- Hassan Hassan, The National

Don't be fooled: Assad is no friend of Syria's Christian minorities -- Bahnan Yamin et al, The Hill

The Right Way to Create Safe Zones in Syria -- Paul R. Williams and J. Trevor Ulbrick, Foreign Affairs

Donald Trump's decision to arm Kurdish fighters could have profound impact on the Syria crisis -- Patrick Cockburn, The Independent

Erdogan Is Playing for Keeps in Northern Syria -- Nicholas W. Norberg, National Interest

Trump’s North Korea Policy Just Got More Complicated -- Uri Friedman, Defense One/The Atlantic

Will Election of S. Korea Leftist Derail Trump’s N. Korea Policy? -- Gordon G. Chang, Daily Beast

What Other Countries Are Doing About the North Korea Threat -- Cristina Silva, Newsweek

‘Silk Road’ plan stirs unease over China’s strategic goals -- Joe McDonald, Munir Ahmed and Gillian Wong, AP

Is Sudan Still a State Sponsor of Terror? -- Bennett Seftel, Cipher Brief

Shining a Light on the Western Balkans -- Vera Zakem, Bill Rosenau, and Danielle Johnson, RCD/CNA

Britain Needs a Defense Strategy for the Post-Brexit Age -- Peter Robertson, Telegraph

Lavrov in Washington: Can America and Russia Work Together? -- Nikolas K. Gvosdev, National Interest

Trump and Russia's Lavrov talk Syria at White House -- Laura Rozen, Al-Monitor

Trump's War against the DC Establishment Isn't Going Away -- Jacob Heilbrunn, National Interest

Why is Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro still in power? -- The Economist