Peter Apps, Reuters: Lessons from Zimbabwe’s coup
The speed of events in Zimbabwe this week has taken even experienced Africa watchers by surprise. An effective army takeover; President Robert Mugabe placed under house arrest and his wife – and would-be successor – reportedly fleeing the country.
It’s still unclear who will end up running Zimbabwe. But whoever prevails will need the backing of both the military as well as China, Zimbabwe’s primary foreign investor.
By Thursday, reports indicated the 93-year-old Mugabe was still trying to persuade top generals that he should be allowed to serve out his presidential term until elections next year. The generals were believed to favor handing power to Mugabe’s former deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Here are some key lessons from what we now know:
Read more ....
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- November 16, 2017
Even if Mugabe has gone, Zimbabweans won’t be dancing in the streets -- Wilf Mbanga, The Guardian
Robert Mugabe's Inner Circle Implodes -- Todd Moss and Jeffrey Smith, The Atlantic
Russia, Turkey, Iran meeting to discuss Syria strategy -- M.K. Bhadrakumar, Asia Times
Qatar Is at the Center of Today's Arab Tangle -- David B. Rivkin & JrNawaf Obaid, National Interest
Is the Saudi Purge Really About Corruption? -- Andrew Leber and Christopher Carothers, Foreign Affairs
How deep ties with Pakistan’s military helped Saudi purge -- Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, Asia Times
Saudi Arabia Wants to Fight Iran to the Last American -- Trita Parsi, National Interest
Russia's next Power Play May Occur in Yemen -- Samuel Ramani, National Interest
Through night vision goggles, Afghan conflict becoming a proxy war -- M.K. Bhadrakumar, Asia Times
Time Running Out in Korea -- Daniel L. Davis, Real Clear Defense
Would North Korea Attack the Olympics in 2018? (By the Way, They Will Be in South Korea) -- Christopher A. Preble & Harry J. Kazianis, National Interest
Recognize the Real Possibility of Conflict in North Korea -- François Godement, RCW
Nobody is going to bail out Venezuela -- Henkel Garcia U, The Conversation
The New Era of the Proliferated Proxy War -- Andrew Mumford, The Bridge
The Cost of Protection vs. The Cost of Regret -- Peter DiMaggio & Nick Misselbrook, RCD
