James Robbins, US News and World Report: Assessing the Syria Situation
U.S. goals in Syria have dramatically shifted since the Trump administration took office.
The Obama administration's Syria strategy has left along with the former president. The question remains how the United States will continue to be involved in the conflict, if at all.
Peace talks are scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana on Feb. 16-17, sponsored by Russia and Iran (on the part of the Damascus government), and Turkey (on the part of some of the rebel groups). A second round of talks will begin in Geneva on Feb. 23, sponsored by the United Nations. The United States has been invited to the Astana talks and will continue to participate in the Geneva rounds.
Read more ....
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 15, 2017
Trump takes first step to put his stamp on Mideast peace -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM
Trump Critics Need to Be Careful What They Cheer For -- Sam Roggeveen. The Interpreter
Winning the hearts of Islamic State’s potential recruits -- CSM Editorial
AP Analysis: Few alternatives to Palestinian state -- AP
Change Has Not Come to the Middle East -- Michael Singh, Cipher Brief
North Korean murder: Did Kim Jong-nam's ties to China play a role? -- John Power, CSM
Why China Isn't More Outspoken About North Korea (Video) -- Brandon Ott, RCW
One China, Two Koreas -- Jacob Shapiro, Geopolitical Futures
A rare glimpse into the brutality of life under Boko Haram -- PBS Newshour
Belarus’s game of truancy -- Andrew Wilson, European Council on Foreign Relations
Merkel Might Lose After All -- Spiegel Online
A Former Putin Backer Steps Through the Looking Glass -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg
Greece's Euro Membership Looks Vulnerable Again -- Mark Gilbert, Bloomberg
Perilous: European Crisis Looms in the Balkans -- Carl Gershman and Ivana Cvetkovic Bajrovic, World Affairs
US Economic Freedom Has Hit a Historic Low. What Happened? -- Anthony B. Kim, Daily Signal