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

Arthur MacMillan, The National: Syria's peace plan takes shape — but it relies on Bashar Al Assad

A new UN envoy is in place but there are signs that even Russia is losing influence in Damascus.

When Staffan de Mistura addressed the UN Security Council for the last time in December as the Secretary General's special envoy for Syria he ended in unusual fashion, seeking permission to break protocol and shake the hands of ambassadors from member states he had been briefing.

Warm applause followed. Privately, however, some felt relief rather than appreciation at his departure.

“I could not believe that happened,” said a diplomat from a permanent member of the Security Council, scolding the veteran Swedish-Italian envoy's efforts to broker a peace.

“It all just kind of fell apart under him.”

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

Kurds look to EU to replace US in Syria -- Faisal Al Yafai, Asia Times

In Mosul's enduring rubble, fertile soil for an ISIS revival? -- Scott Peterson, CSM

Drone Damage: Why Trump's Terror Tactics Could be Costly -- Paul R. Pillar, National Interest

Bette Dam about Taliban's Mullah Omar: 'It was all fake news' -- Ann-Christin Herbe (Interview)

Netanyahu's departure would be a very big deal -- Aaron David Miller, CNN

The Middle East’s Great Divide Is Not Sectarianism -- Hussein Agha and Robert Malley, The New Yorker

UK seeks to slam the brakes on Brexit, but what comes next? -- Jill Lawless, AP

The risk of a no-deal Brexit just increased again -- Robert Peston, The Spectator

Michel Barnier: Brexit extension ‘for what?’ -- Maïa de La Baume, Politico.eu

China’s Growing Hawkishness -- Aaron Kliegman, Washington Free Beacon

Bouteflika May Have Stepped Aside, but the Generals Really Running Algeria Won’t -- Francisco Serrano, WPR

What's next for Algeria? -- Ramy Allahoum, Al Jazeera

Closed borders and fighting words: Rwanda and Uganda’s deepening rift -- Ivan M. Ashaba & Gerald Bareebe, African Arguments

Russia's Tragic Great Power Politics -- Robert Hamilton, Foreign Policy Research Institute

How Turkey’s Lifeline to Maduro May Fall Apart -- Imdat Oner, American Quarterly

Explainer: How to read an aircraft's black box -- Tim Hepher, Reuters

Why France is analyzing Ethiopian jet’s black boxes -- Angela Charlton, AP