Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 1, 2018

Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg: Putin Wants Modern Weapons, Not a Modern Russia

The president's key speech was full of unfunded promises and thinly veiled threats.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday made clear his priorities for his next six-year presidential term: He spent about as much time talking about Russia's new strategic weaponry as about all domestic policies put together.

Revanche and confrontation continue to drive Putin's agenda. In the meantime, he appears to believe that Russia's internal problems will largely fix themselves if he sets ambitious enough goals. That, regardless of the new weaponry, is a disaster in the making.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 1, 2018

Putin’s nuclear-tipped hybrid war on the West -- Peter Apps, Reuters

What the U.S. should do about Putin’s nuclear threats -- Caroline Dorminey, Reuters

What the Russian veto on Yemeni war signifies -- M.K. Bhadrakumar, Asia Times

Time for America to Declare Victory in Syria and Come Home -- Doug Bandow, National Interest

Americans and Russians Fought a Battle in Syria — It’s Time to Care -- David French, NRO

Qatar weathers the storm -- Jonathan Gorvett, Asia Times

A New Arab Spring Builds, Driven by 'Discontent Approaching Despair' -- The Cipher Brief

Afghan leader's offer to Taliban is a last-ditch gamble for peace -- Simon Tisdall, The Guardian

China's President Trades One Set of Risks For Another -- Stratfor

'Dictator for life': Xi Jinping's power grab condemned as step towards tyranny -- Tom Phillips, The Guardian

Xi Jinping’s latest power grab is bad news for China’s economy -- Gwynn Guilford, Quartz

The Xi Silk Road is here to stay -- Pepe Escobar, Asia Times

Europe Still Doesn't Take Its Own Defense Seriously -- Doug Bandow, National Interest

The real reason to worry about Italy’s election -- Paul Wallace, Reuters

Apple Is Going to Be the First Trillion-Dollar Company -- Barry Ritholtz, Bloomberg