Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 24, 2018

Khitam Al Amir, Gulf News: Turkish military offensive in Afrin is a dangerous development

The Turkish military campaign against the US-backed Kurds in the enclave of Afrin in northern Syria was the topic that dominated discussions in the Arabic language press across the region this week

Oman’s Al Watan newspaper argues that the Syrian crisis is going to be more complicated due to evil plans pushed by all parties plotting against Syria, in reference to the United States, Turkey and terrorist militias. Washington announced plans to set up a 30,000-strong force inside Syria to protect territory held by its mainly Kurdish allies. This force, made up of Kurdish armed militias, will form the nucleus of a separate independent entity in northern Syria, dominated by Kurds, who yearn for independence. The US is trying its utmost to thwart any political solution that preserves Syria’s geographical unity, to serve the Israeli occupation entity and enable it to realise its colonial dreams of taking control of the entire region.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 24, 2018

Erdogan Scored Big With Afrin Operation -- Semih Idiz, Al Monitor

The ISIS defeat myth: No one talks about ISIS sympathizers and US military remaining in Syria -- Danny Sjursen, The Hill

Islamic State desert bases still a headache for Iraq -- Shelly Kittleson, Al-Monitor

US pulled multiple ways in Syria as Islamic State recedes -- Matthew Lee and Josh Lederman, AP

The unlikely Mideast alliance that threatens Iran -- Maysam Behravesh, Reuters

What Mike Pence Just Did in Jerusalem -- Aaron David Miller, Politico

Beijing Goes Boldly into Anti-Satellite Weapons Frontier -- Levi Maxey, The Cipher Brief

The United States and Southwest Asia -- Mohammed Ayoob, The Strategist

As Save the Children suspends Afghan operations, who is left? -- AFP

The White House is right to suspend aid to Pakistan -- Daniel R. DePetris, Reuters

Revisionist Russia Is the Most Nuclearized Power in the World -- Pavel K. Baev, RCD/EDM

Europe Braces For the Next Italian Election -- Adriano Bosoni, Stratfor

What a U.S.-China Trade War Would Look Like -- John Edwards, Lowy Interpreter

How Much Worse Can it Get for Venezuela’s State Oil Firm PDVSA? -- Amy Myers Jaffe, Council of Foreign Relations

Is this the end of civilisation? We could take a different path -- George Monbiot, The Guardian