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

Peter Apps, Reuters: Europe's rising tide of attacks show diminishing political effect

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Islamic State was quick to claim responsibility for Monday’s suicide attack in Manchester that killed 22 people. As its last territory in Iraq’s second city of Mosul falls to U.S.-backed Iraqi forces and its Syrian capital Raqqa is encircled, the group is increasingly desperate for legitimacy. Attacks on the West are one of its few remaining options.

Although IS claimed the attack as revenge against "Crusaders", neither U.S. nor U.K. authorities have attributed blame to the group.

Whatever the truth, Islamic State faces another, perhaps more serious problem. Its attacks on Europe may be monstrous, but they yield a declining political return.

Read more ....

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

The Manchester Attack Shows How Terrorists Learn -- Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, The Atlantic

Are Europeans getting used to terror attacks? -- Darko Janjevic, DW

The Manchester Arena attack is the appalling price we pay for the freedom of European democracy -- Matthew Norman, The Independent

Enabling Murder: Western politicians worry more about being called “Islamophobic” than they do about stopping jihadist slaughter. -- Bruce Bawer, City Journal

The Manchester murderer may have been a 'lone wolf' but I refuse to believe NOBODY knew ANYTHING. As Trump said, Muslims must Drive. Them. Out. -- Piers Morgan, Daily Mail

Bereft of meat, Trump declarations leave Israel with much to chew on -- Raphael Ahren, Times of Israel

Donald Trump’s reset on Islam -- The Economist

Trump's Saudi embrace, Iran disdain upend Obama's vision: analysts -- AFP

Iran’s President Isn’t a Reformer. He’s an Enabler. -- Ray Takeyh, Politico

What NATO Needs from Trump -- Michael Mandelbaum, Project Syndicate

Lessons From Turkey's Slide Toward Dictatorship -- Noah Feldman, Bloomberg

Sorry, Time, but Putin doesn’t work in a cathedral -- Bryan MacDonald, RT

Don’t Let the Original Trump-Russia Question Fade -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Shale Is Just a Scapegoat for Weaker Oil Prices -- Jason Schenker, Bloomberg

Google Is Building the Future, and the New York Times Is Depressed -- John Tamny, RCM