Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 30, 2018

Nic Robertson, CNN: A deadly storm is coming in Syria

In a Salisbury restaurant -- not far from the where the nerve agent Novichok had been used by what Britain suspects were Russian operatives -- I had dinner where a man I at first took to be a bouncer turned out to be a magician.

Several times during our meal, he performed card tricks at our table. He was good: No matter how hard I looked, I could not catch his sleight of hand.

Something similar is happening in Syria right now.

Let me explain: Russia is preparing its biggest military exercises in close to four decades: 300,000 troops, 36,000 vehicles in its own far east.

Meanwhile, nine time zones to its west, Russia is shifting an unprecedented number of warships into the Mediterranean and Russian state media reported that the Russian navy and air force are set to hold large-scale exercises in the Mediterranean Sea in early September.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 30, 2018

The looming, final battle for Syria’s rebels -- Philip Issa, AP

Piercing Through Assad’s Reconstruction Mirage in Syria -- Matthew RJ Brodsky and Bassam Barabandi, National Interest

In Syria’s Idlib, a battle without Iran or chemicals -- Manhal Bareesh, Asia Times

The Kurds Once Again Face American Abandonment -- Joost Hiltermann, The Atlantic

The War in Yemen: Playing With Fire -- Nabeel Khoury, The Atlantic

US cuts to Palestinians stir existential fears in Jordan -- Jonathan Gorvett, Asia Times

UN war crimes report threatens US support for Yemen war -- Jack Detsch, Al-Monitor

Is the U.S. In a New Cold War With China? -- Robyn Dixon, Los Angeles Times

The Plan to End the Korean War -- Uri Friedman, The Atlantic

Why China and Russia are obsessed with vast new war games -- Peter Apps, Reuters

Mattis Pours Cold Water on Afghan War Privatization Proposal -- Oriana Pawlyk, DoD Buzz

The New U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Brings Along the Same Stale Ideas -- Sophia Larson and L Jerrod A. Laber, National Interest

Is the U.S. In a New Cold War With China? -- Robyn Dixon, Los Angeles Times

Myanmar: where ‘genocide’ doesn’t really matter -- Bertil Lintner, Asia Times

Will UN's Myanmar 'genocide' accusation amount to change? -- Mohammed Jamjoom, Al Jazeera

Cameroon's Paul Biya on shaky ground -- Fred Muvunyi, DW

Europe Wants to Defend Itself? Good Luck With That. -- Hal Brands, Bloomberg