Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 19, 2017

National Interest: Video: Could Kabul Fall to the Taliban?

According to U.S. Code Title 10, the secretary of the Army is “responsible for, and has the authority necessary to conduct, all affairs of the Department of the Army,” including such functions as “recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping, training, servicing,” and the “formulation of policies and programs . . . that are fully consistent with national security objectives and policies established by the President or the Secretary of Defense.” Today’s Army is suffering in almost all of those areas.

Before the House Armed Services Committee in February, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Daniel Allyn testified that the state of the Army was worse than many thought possible. “Unfortunately, fifteen years of sustained counter-insurgency operations have degraded the Army’s ability to conduct operations across the spectrum of conflict and narrowed the experience base of our leaders,” Allyn said. But it was what he said next, however, that highlighted the effects from overextending the U.S. military.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 19, 2017

Trump’s spiritual tour to begin with Saudi desert tryst -- Sami Moubayed, Asia Times

Reflections on Trump's First State Visit to the Middle East -- Ahmed Charai, National Interest

The U.S. Must Respond to Turkey’s Attack on Washington -- Tom Rogan, National Review

So What’s Wrong With an Arab NATO? -- Christopher Bolan, RCD

Is China unstoppable in the South China Sea? -- Katie Hunt and David McKenzie, CNN

The Key to North Korea Is Russia -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Iraqi factions divided over whether US troops stay -- Hamdi Malik, Al-Monitor

Netanyahu Seeks ‘Dirty Harry’ Moment With Iran as Trump Arrives -- Jonathan Ferziger and David Wainer, Bloomberg

The Downfall of Chechnya -- Kamran Bokhari, Geopolitical Futures

How the World Can Help Venezuelans Save Their Democracy -- Frida Ghitis, WPReview

Brazil's President Should Resign -- Mac Margolis, Bloomberg

What It Will Take to Stop Corruption in Brazil -- Bloomberg editorial

Meeting of the Minds: How Presidents and Generals Stake out Their Territory -- Dan Maurer, LawFare

The Fantasy Plans to Remove Donald Trump from Office -- Matt Purple, National Interest

The End of the Julian Assange Saga? -- Krishnadev Calamur, The Atlantic