Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 20, 2019

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are seen together in the village of Baghouz, Deir Al Zor province, Syria February 18, 2019. REUTERS/Rodi Said/File Photo

Reuters: Explainer: Does Islamic State still pose a threat?

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Islamic State looks about to lose its last foothold on the banks of the Euphrates in Syria, but though its era of territorial rule may have been expunged for now, there is near universal agreement that the group remains a threat.

WHAT HAS ITS TERRITORIAL DEFEAT ACCOMPLISHED?

Islamic State’s possession of land in Iraq and Syria set it apart from other like-minded groups such as al Qaeda and became central to its mission when it declared a caliphate in 2014, claiming sovereignty over all Muslim lands and peoples.

Destroying the quasi-state it built there denies the group its most potent propaganda and recruiting tool as well as a logistical base from which it could train fighters and plan coordinated attacks overseas.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 20, 2019

Endgame for the Isis ‘caliphate’ looms in small Syrian town -- Bethan McKernan, The Guardian

Mapping the US war on terror -- Stephanie Savell, Asia Times

Poll: 73% of Americans Don’t Believe North Korea Will Denuclearize -- Daniel R. DePetris, National Interest

40 Retired Generals and Diplomats Support Continued US-North Korea Diplomacy -- National Interest/American College of National Security Leaders

India and Pakistan have returned to a level of hostility not seen in decades after the attacks in Pulwama in Kashmir -- Rashmee Roshan Lall, The National

India’s options after Pulwama -- Happymon Jacob, The Hindu

Xi Jinping is taking China down a dangerous path -- Alexander Görlach, DW

Conscript deaths making political waves in Singapore -- Nile Bowie, Asia Times

Putin's empty promises -- Ingo Mannteufel, DW

How Russia's domestic divisions could foil its Middle East plans -- Dmitriy Frolovskiy, Al Jazeera

Eastern Europe’s problem isn’t Russia -- Thomas de Waal, Politico.eu

From Haiti to Madagascar: The world's forgotten crises -- Helena Kaschel, DW

The Final Version of the EU's Copyright Directive Is the Worst One Yet -- Cory Doctorow, EFF

Could Huawei threaten the Five Eyes alliance? -- Gordon Corera, BBC

From Julius Caesar to JFK to Jamal Khashoggi — the nature of assassination is changing -- Joey Watson and Keri Phillips, ABC News Online