Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 12, 2017

Ralph Jennings, First Post: 3 Scenarios For Resolving The Dangerous Shutdown Of Qatar

Qatar is trying to find its way out of sudden, economically dangerous isolation imposed by Middle Eastern neighbors who suspect it of supporting Muslim extremist groups. Cuts in air travel and trade since May 23 by a half dozen nations threaten the tiny Persian Gulf state’s economic foundation. Some reports question where people’s food will come from. But Qatar still has friends. If the modern country of 2.24 million people can convince angry skeptics, countries such as Saudi Arabia, it’s not sponsoring the likes of Islamic State’s franchises, then the doors may reopen.

Here are three scenarios for how the Qatar crisis could play out:

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 12, 2017

America is no longer a force for stability in the Gulf -- The Economist

Why Qatar Is a problem for Washington -- Salman Al Ansari, The Hill

Untangling the Qatar kerfuffle: Sure, the tiny Gulf state is a lousy ally — but so is everyone else in the region -- Steven A. Cook, Salon

Qatar's Powerless Weapon -- Julian Lee, Bloomberg

Why $50 Oil Is at Heart of the Saudi-Qatar Conflict -- Tom Holland, South China Morning Post

The Looming Defeat of ISIS in Mosul Puts Iraq At A Crossroads -- Lukman Faily, Newsweek

Trump’s silver lining in Iraq -- Peter Van Buren, Reuters

Avoiding apocalypse on the Korean Peninsula -- Rajan Menon, Salon/TomDispatch.com

How Big A Threat Is Extremism In Southeast Asia? -- Ashley Westerman, NPR

Xi Jinping’s Marco Polo Strategy -- Joseph S. Nye, Project Syndicate

This Is How Chinese Spying Inside the U.S. Government Really Works -- Peter Mattis, National Interest

Emmanuel Macron will offer no mercy to Theresa May -- Gideon Rachman, Financial Times

Venezuela’s Road to Disaster Is Littered With Chinese Cash -- Christopher Balding, Foreign Policy

Relax, America still has our back -- Konrad Yakabuski, The Globe and Mail

What Do America's Allies Think of 'America First'? -- James Cook, National Interest