Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- April 29, 2021

John McLaughlin, Ozy: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Reality of Afghanistan

The Taliban are strong and well-armed. The elected government is weak, corruption is rife, and government security forces are struggling. What could go wrong?

President’s Joe Biden’s decision to bring all U.S. troops home from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 has provoked enormous controversy across the political spectrum.

Opinion divides between those outraged by what they see as a potentially disastrous “cut and run” decision and those who insist that keeping troops there would just prolong an unwinnable war that has already consumed 20 years and many lives.

Critics and supporters are about equally divided, and each side can make a good case, so let’s peel back the arguments to see what’s underneath.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- April 29, 2021

Afghanistan: How Six Good Reasons Can Still Lead to a Bad Decision -- Tim Willasey-Wilsey, Cipher Brief

Candid reflections on Afghanistan from those whose lives were changed forever by the war -- Howard Altman, Military Times

I Commanded a NATO Brigade in Afghanistan. Now Is Not the Time to Leave. -- James L. Creighton, National Interest

India’s COVID Tsunami -- Shashi Tharoor, Project

Syndicate

India's COVID 'inferno': Why is the second surge happening now? -- Beatrice Christofaro, DW

Philippines headed towards India-like Covid crisis -- Jason Castaneda, Asia Times

Who should America give its surplus vaccines to? -- Andrew Salman, Asia Times

Is latest Ethiopian proposal on Nile dam talks a play for time? -- Ahmed Gomaa, Al-Monitor

Is Somalia on the brink of a new conflict? -- Al Jazeera

It Is Time to Change Approach to North Korea -- Daniel R. DePetris, RCW

Washington is avoiding the tough questions on Taiwan and China -- Foreign Affairs

Biden’s $90 billion bailout to Tehran -- Foreign Policy

Displaced Conflict: Russia’s Qualified Success in Combatting Insurgency -- Mark Youngman and Cerwyn Moore, Russia Matters

Glenn Greenwald Says US-Russia Relationship ‘Clearly at Low Point,’ Names Two Reasons Why -- Sputnik

Armed Gangs and Warlords Are Taking Over Venezuela -- Frida Ghitis Thursday, WPR