Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 3, 2017

Stanford Magazine: North Korea and the Potential for a Nuclear Catastrophe

Stanford experts offer context and advice about the increasing threat of war.

On Wednesday, North Korea launched what was believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile that traveled 1,000 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan. It was the 23rd missile launched in 16 tests since February, according to CNN.

In the past year, as North Korea has ramped up its weapons testing program, those within its sights have begun to take its posturing more seriously. Hawaii has resumed tests of Cold War-era nuclear sirens. A video by Los Angeles’ Health Care Agency offers tips such as, “Get inside. Stay inside. Stay tuned.” Public safety officials in Guam have distributed a two-page pamphlet on how to prepare for a nuclear strike. And the Federal Emergency Management Agency has drawn up a day-after survival blueprint for cities.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 3, 2017

North Korea missile test shows limits of U.S. leverage -- Bill Bishop, Axios

History is the best teacher when it comes to handling North Korea -- Armstrong Williams, The Hill

Australia turns its back on the new Asia with white paper -- SCMP

editorial

How can the Arab world sidestep the pull of the abyss? -- Nabil Fahmy, Asia Times

Hostile Takeover: How Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Reshaped the Kingdom -- Gerald F. Hyman, National Interest

Israel should be skeptical of the Saudis -- David M. Weinberg. Israel Hayom

Assessing ‘the China factor’ in Kenya and Zimbabwe -- Hannah Ryder, Asia Times

The rest of the world has woken up, but migrants are still sleepwalking into Libya slave markets -- Bethan McKernan, The Independent

A coalition will be the end of Angela Merkel -- Philip Stephens, Financial Times

Spain’s Kosovo-Catalonia conundrum -- Fredrik Wesslau, ECFR

Raúl Castro: Will he stay in power in Cuba or retire? -- Mimi Whitefield And Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald

Evo for ever? Bolivia scraps term limits as critics blast 'coup' to keep Morales in power -- Laurence Blair, The Guardian

On Rationalizing U.S. Foreign Policy: No More ‘Whack-a-Mole’ -- Monica Duffy Toft, National Interest

Central Banks warn of Bitcoin risks -- Dagmar Zindel, DW

How ISIL changed the oil map of Iraq -- Omar Al-Nidawiby, Al Jazeera

OPEC: Oil Production Deal Still Has Gas in the Tank, For Now -- Stratfor