Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 9, 2019

U.S. Marines fire a 120mm mortar round during a registration mission in an undisclosed location of southwest Asia, on Dec. 20, 2018, while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve — the defeat-ISIS coalition. (Sgt. Matthew Crane/Army)

Kyle Rempfer, Military Times: Are we leaving Syria or not?

The U.S. military’s three-year mission in Syria shows no signs of ending or significantly changing anytime soon, U.S. officials now say, despite President Donald Trump’s announcement in December that the Islamic State was defeated and all troops would be withdrawn immediately.

U.S. airstrikes in Syria have not slowed down based on strike reports released by the American-led coalition, showing that there are plenty of ISIS targets left in the area.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 9, 2019

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

America's Absence Could Be Syria's New Nightmare -- Colin P. Clarke and William Courtney, National Interest

Why did the UAE and Bahrain re-open their embassies in Syria? -- Ali Bakeer, Al Jazeera

History proves Syria's strategic importance should not be underestimated -- Michael Young, The National

Breaking up hard to do, Turkey says of US and Kurd 'terrorists' -- Al Jazeera

Kurds’ ambitions caught in power games -- Bassem Mroue, AP

Why Iran has opened up about engagement with Taliban -- Mohsen Shariatinia, Al-Monitor

Don’t Repeat the Mistakes of Iraq: U.S. Should Continue Training Mission in Afghanistan -- Luke Coffey, Heritage Foundation

Will China go to war over Taiwan? -- Peter Apps, Reuters

Where Did the One Million Figure for Detentions in Xinjiang’s Camps Come From? -- China File

It’s time to think the unthinkable on Brexit -- Sam Gyimah MP, The Spectator

Russia's next moves in Venezuela should be closely monitored -- William Courtney, The Hill

Why the New Cold War Is Permanent -- Robert Kaplan, Foreign Policy

Trump’s Battle Over the Wall is Intensifying -- Hunter DeRensis, National Interest

Can Pat Shanahan Serve as ‘Acting’ Defense Secretary Forever? -- Katie Bo Williams, Defense One

Top ten foreign policy trends in 2019 -- European Council on Foreign Relations