August 15, 2018

Weekly World News Update

U.S.-Turkey Relations in Tailspin; Fragile Alliances; Stronger Sanctions Slam Russia; Space Force; Technology...Making Things Better?; Argentine Senate Rejects Legalizing Abortion; Cuban Governance

Quote of the Week

"Washington must give up the misguided notion that our relationship can be asymmetrical...Failure to reverse this trend of unilateralism and disrespect will require us to start looking for new friends and allies." -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose op-ed appeared in Friday's New York Times.

U.S.-Turkey Relations in Tailspin

“The Real Reasons Why U.S.-Turkey Relations Have Hit an All-Time Low” James Carey -- Geopolitics Alert, August 12, 2018

“Turkey’s Frustration Is Bigger Than U.S.: Foreign Minister” -- Hurriyet Daily News, August 15, 2018

“'Relations with Turkey Are Not Good at This Time' (Trump Tweet)” Krishnadev Calamur -- The Atlantic, August 11, 2018

"Trump Is the First President to Get Turkey Right" Steven Cook -- Foreign Policy, August 13, 2018

“Lira Crisis: Action by Turkey’s Central Bank Fails to Quell Contagion Fears” Julia Kollewe and Martin Farrer -- The Guardian, August 13, 2018

Fragile Alliances 

“Allies, Alliances, and the Fourth Strategic Offset” Michael Miklaucic -- Real Clear Defense, August 10, 2018 

“Security Woes: Why Europe Must Develop Its Own Security Framework” Cristian Tracci -- Foreign Policy Association Blog, August 13, 2018  

“The Case Against a U.S. Retreat from International Development” John R. Allen -- Brookings, August 10, 2018

Stronger Sanctions Slam Russia

“Russia Likens U.S. Sanctions to Economic War – and Threatens Response ‘By Other Means’” Sam Meredith -- CNBC, August 10, 2018 

"U.S. Congress Publishes Entire Text of Russia Sanctions 'Bill from Hell’" -- RT, August 14, 2018

"Ruble Tumbles as U.S. Sets Out New Sanctions on Russia" Andrew Kramer -- New York Times, August 9, 2018

Space Force 

“Space Force Is Trump’s Answer to New Russian and Chinese Weapons” Lara Seligman -- Foreign Policy, August 10, 2018 

“Trump's Space Force Is About Beating China, as Beijing Is Talking as if It Already Owns Space” Alex Lockie -- Business Insider, August 10, 2018 

“U.S. Needs a Cyber Force More Than a Space Force” James Stavridis -- Bloomberg, August 14, 2018 

“Opinion: Why a Missile Defense System in Space Is a Bad Idea” Laura Grego and David Wright -- Politico, August 10, 2018 

Technology...Making Things Better?

“Elon Musk Says Money to Take Tesla Private Would Come from Saudi Arabia, But He Hasn’t Struck a Deal” James F. Peltz and James Rufus Koren -- LA Times, August 13, 2018 

“Update on Taking Tesla Private” Elon Musk -- Tesla, August 13, 2018 

“AP Exclusive: Google Tracks Your Movements, Like It or Not” Ryan Nakashima -- AP, August 13, 2018   

Argentine Senate Rejects Legalizing Abortion

“Argentina’s Women Have Not Been Beaten on Abortion – Change Will Come” Claudia Piñeiro -- The Guardian, August 10, 2018 

“For Abortion Activists in Argentina, a Campaign Waged Online Faces a Disconnect” Jasmine Garsd -- NPR, August 10, 2018 

“Pro-Abortion-Rights Activists Won in Ireland, But Not Argentina” Yasmeen Serhan -- The Atlantic, August 10, 2018 

Cuban Governance

"Cuba Begins Public Debate on Modernizing Cold War-era Constitution" Marc Frank -- Reuters, August 13, 2018

“Cuban Opposition Leader Is Accused of Attempted Murder. Activists Dispute the Charge” Nora Gámez Torres -- Miami Herald, August 13, 2018