Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 27, 2018

Russian servicemen watch the launch of the S-300 air defence system missile during the International Army Games 2016 at the Ashuluk military polygon outside Astrakhan, Russia, August 7, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Dave Majumdar, National Interest: Russia's S-300 Play in Syria Is Creating Geopolitical Waves

The Kremlin made the decision to supply Damascus with the potent S-300 air-defense system after a Syrian surface-to-air missile battery mistakenly shot down a Russian aircraft during an Israeli raid.

Russia says it will supply Syria with a version of the S-300 air and missile-defense system, despite objections from Washington and Tel Aviv. The Kremlin made the decision to supply Damascus with the potent air-defense system after a Syrian S-200 surface-to-air missile battery mistakenly shot down a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M Coot-A intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft during an Israeli raid on Assad regime forces on September 17.

“A modern S-300 air defense missile system will be supplied to the Syrian Armed Forces within two weeks,” Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said on September 24, as reported by the state-owned TASS news agency . “It is capable of intercepting air assault weapons at a distance of more than 250 kilometers and hit simultaneously several air targets.”

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 27, 2018

What is the Point of a Forever War in Iraq? -- Bonnie Kristian, National Interest

In Yemen’s war, Saudis see Hodeida as Iran connection -- Alison Tahmizian Meuse, Asia Times

What are prospects of limited engagement between Iran, US in Afghanistan? -- Mohsen Shariatinia, Al-Monitor

Small question, big consequences: Is North Korea a nuclear power? -- Foster Klug, The Associated Press

Is Moon overplaying his hand as a Korean peacemaker? -- Robert E. McCoy, Asia Times

North Korea Will Give up the Bomb and Normalize -- Zhiqun Zhu, National Interest

The Long March of the Chinese Navy -- Frank Lavin, NRO

Peeling away Beijing’s mask reveals true cost of China’s economic miracle -- Gordon Watts, Asia Times

Kissinger’s historic China policy: A retrospective -- Joseph Bosco, The Hill

Macron’s black September: how the French president fell to Earth -- Andrew Hussey, New Statesman

The dreadful state of British politics -- Alex Massie, The Spectator

Currency Crisis: Should Argentina Ditch The Peso And Adopt The Dollar? -- Annabella Quiroga, World Crunch

Democracy and Dysfunction Could Save Brazil From Apocalypse -- Peter Schechter, RCW

Latin American democracies’ statement on Venezuela was shameful -- Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald

Trump's Foreign Policy Successes Show Principled Realism in Action -- Salvatore Babones, National Interest