Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 13, 2017

Image: U.S. Air Force

Rathna K. Muralidharan, National Interest: The Battle For Iraq Doesn’t End With Mosul—Or ISIS

As the battle of Mosul reaches its end, President Trump must decide how to proceed in Iraq. Both the U.S. and Iraqi governments’ rhetoric indicate American troops will withdraw after Mosul has been recaptured. However, that would leave the country vulnerable to Iranian influence. U.S troops should remain in Iraq to secure its territory and government from external threats.

Iran has tried to increase its influence in Iraq since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011. Tehran has extended its reach through Shi’a militias loyal to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei. These militias have fought alongside Iraqi security forces and Kurdish troops against ISIS to claim territory, not help civilians, and many of them have political wings that seek to align Iraq’s government with Iran’s political and religious structure.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 13, 2017

Trump's Syria Ceasefire Is Doomed: It may bring Russia on board, but it hardly acknowledges Iran's role in the war. -- Robert Ford, The Atlantic

Iran and Saudi Arabia, not democracy, the winners from the invasion of Iraq -- Peter Hartcher, Sydney Morning Herald

Mosul Mourns Its Minaret, Sort Of -- Rasha Al Aqeedi, American Interest

Conflict and cholera: Yemen descends into despair -- Elizabeth Renzetti, The Globe and Mail

What Really Matters in the Middle East -- Jacob L. Shapiro, Geopolitical Futures

North Korea’s Kim: Dictator? Reformer? Shrewd negotiator? -- Hyung-Jin Kim, AP

North Korean nuclear ambitions put long-time ally China in a difficult position -- Annabelle Quince, ABC News Online

North Korea: The Case for Deterrence -- David Santoro, RCD

Private contractors instead of US troops in Afghanistan? -- Masood Saifullah (Interview), DW

'Greater Albania': A Threat to Europe Simmering Along the Adriatic? -- Dino Buonaiuto, RCW

Stalin Reloaded? What the results of a recent poll tell about re-Stalinization in post-Soviet Russia. -- Gabriele Woidelko, Berlin Policy Journal

What Russians Want From Their President -- Alexei Levinson, Moscow Times

Trump's Low-Level Russian Connection: The lawyer who met Donald Trump Jr. was no Kremlin power broker. -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

How the Ukraine War Spilled Into the U.S. Election -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Anger is simmering worldwide – and Trump and Putin just fan the flames -- Paul Mason, The Guardian