Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 8, 2016

Samer N Abboud, Al Jazeera: Syria's war: What went wrong in east Aleppo?

When the Russian intervention into the Syrian conflict accelerated in mid-2016, many analysts and partisans declared the "Battle of Aleppo" to hold the key to the future of the Syrian conflict.

Decisive victory one way or another, or the re-establishment of a military stalemate, would dramatically affect the course of the conflict and the possibilities of a political solution, no matter how flawed or unjust.

As 2016 draws to a close, the Russian-led intervention into Aleppo has led to virtually the entire city falling under the control of regime-aligned forces, begging the question: What next?

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 8, 2016

Putin and Assad Are About to Achieve Their Biggest Victory in Syria -- Uri Friedman, The Atlantic

Aleppo’s fall won’t end the Syrian conflict – it will signal a more terrifying stage -- Haid Haid, The Guardian

Is there a military solution in Syria? -- Chris Doyle, Al Arabiya

The Kurds: Not Quite a Nation -- Jacob L. Shapiro, Geopolitical

Futures

Why is Saudi Arabia at War in Yemen? -- Ali Al Shihabi, Project Syndicate

General Scaparrotti: Turkey's Military Purge Has "Degraded" NATO -- Arthur Beesley, Financial Times

Will new Uzbek president alter the dictatorial course? -- Mansur Mirovalev, Al Jazeera

The Simple Reasons Why the South China Sea is Headed for Tragic Troubles -- Peter Layton, National Interest

Everything you need to know about the South China Sea conflict – in under five minutes -- William Johnson, Reuters

Why Trump Shouldn't Weaken Us Sanctions on Russia -- Edward Cavanough, The Interpreter

Nuclear War Is No Longer "Unthinkable" for Russia -- Nikolas K. Gvosdev, National Interest

Why Putin Scores Big With the Rosneft Deal -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Mexico's war on drugs: what has it achieved and how is the US involved? -- Nina Lakhani and Erubiel Tirado, The Guardian

ISIS in the Caribbean -- Simon Cottee, The Atlantic

Facebook and Twitter’s real sin goes beyond spreading fake news -- Philip N. Howard, Reuters