Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Next Up for North Korea; Destitution in Puerto Rico; Reflection on the Gen. Assembly; Kurdish Referendum; Japan's Call for Snap Elections; Catalonia Goes to the Polls; Kenya's Election Turmoil

Quote of the Week:

"None other than Trump is on a suicide mission," said Ri Hong Yo, Foreign Minister of North Korea, in a statement to the UN General Assembly. Later, to journalists outside the UN, Ri added: "Last weekend Trump claimed that our leadership won't be around much longer, and hence at last he declared war on our country." 

What's Next, North Korea?

"What Are the Chances the War of the Words with North Korea Escalates?" David French -- National Review, September 26, 2017

"How to Achieve Peace on the Korean Peninsula" Rand Paul -- The National Interest, September 26, 2017

"Could North Korea's Example Inspire Iran and Pakistan?" Akhilesh Pillalamarri -- The Diplomat, September 21, 2017

Destitution in Puerto Rico

"For Puerto Rico, Maria Was Bad, the Aftermath Worse, but the Future Is the Biggest Challenge" Scott Martelle -- Los Angeles Times, September 26, 2017

"Where Is the Urgency in Puerto Rico Response?" Editorial Board -- The Boston Globe, September 26, 2017

"Scope of Puerto Rico Damage So Wide that U.S. Aid Hard to See" Ben Fox and Danika Coto -- Chicago Tribune, September 27, 2017

Reflection and Contention on the General Assembly

"Our Respect for Sovereignty Is Also a Call to Action" Peter Scaturro -- Foreign Policy Association, September 22, 2017

"The United Nations Needs Reform, Not Criticism of Its Purpose" Claudia Flores -- Fortune, September 25, 2017

"Trump's UN Speech: What Makes America First" Gary J. Schmitt -- American Enterprise Institute, September 20, 2017

Repercussions of the Kurdish Referendum 

"Iran and the Kurds" Ariane M. Tabatabai -- Foreign Affairs, September 26, 2017

"As Kurds Celebrate Independence Vote, Neighbors Threaten Military Action" David Zucchino -- The New York Times, September 25, 2017

"Iraqi Kurds Vote for Independence Over U.S. Objections" Rhys Dubin and Emily Tamkin -- Foreign Policy, September 20, 2017

Japan's Abe Calls for Snap Elections

"Shinzo Abe's Calculated Risk in Quest for a Third Term" Tobias Harris -- The Wall Street Journal via The Australian Business Review, September 27, 2017

"Shinzo Abe's Selfish Japan Election Gamble" William Pesek -- Nikkei Asian Review, September 25, 2017

"Japan's Most Powerful Woman Is Messing Up Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Script" Isabella Steger -- Quartz, September 26, 2017

Catalonia Goes to the Polls

"Spain Is Flirting with Another Civil War" James Badcock -- Foreign Policy, September 27, 2017

"Catalonia's Unconstitutional Means to an Undesirable End" -- The Economist, September 23, 2017

Kenya's Election Turmoil Continues

"Kenya May Face Constitutional Crisis Over Election Impasse" Felix Njini and Samuel Gebre-- Bloomberg Politics, September 25, 2017