Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 14, 2019

Reuters

Alireza Ahmadi, National Interest: What Should We Learn from 40 Years of U.S. Intervention in the Middle East?

The presence of America’s vaunted military cannot necessarily shape the political orientation and structure of societies.

With the surprise announcement of the withdrawal of U.S. forces in Syria, and to a lesser extent, the announcement of a drawdown of 7,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan, many interventionist critics who had tolerated Donald Trump’s ineffectual strikes against Assad and peace talks with the Taliban seem to have reached a boiling point. But even after Trump defended his position and said Iran “can do what they want there” in Syria, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton have undercut the clarity of what seemed like a presidential decree mandating a withdrawal.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 14, 2019

Trump’s evolving foreign policy challenges top US diplomat -- Matthew Lee, AP

America's resurgence is reshaping the world -- Conrad Black, National Post

The Many Problems with Erdogan's Plan for Syria -- Adam Lammon, National Interest

U.S. should review its approach to Syria's Assad -- James Dobbins, Reuters

Persistent political infighting is risking Iraq’s hard-won gains -- Mina Al-Oraibi, The National

Why Vietnam may be ideal venue for a second meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un -- Lee Jeong-ho, SCMP

China’s Perilous Taiwan Policy -- Minxin Pei, Project Syndicate

Kenya's new security conundrum after ousting al-Shabab -- Zein Basravi, Al Jazeera

Why Africa’s ageing leaders are keeping a close watch on DRC power struggle -- Jason Burke, The Guardian

The Yellow Vests and French State Security -- Ronald Tiersky, RCW

Forgotten France rises up -- Serge Halimi, Le Monde diplomatique

No, Brexit Britain doesn’t want its empire back -- John Lloyd, Reuters

In search of lost Brexit: how the UK repeatedly weakened its own negotiating position -- Charles Grant, New Statesman

The threat of a Brexit coup in Parliament is real – and terrifying -- Nikki da Costa, The Spectator

We Need to Pay Attention to Chaos in Venezuela -- Jason Marczak, RCW