Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Opinion and analysis of developments in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Plus, views on the evolving geopolitical landscape.

Greece - Extending Uncertainty (and Misery)

"Syriza's Miscalculation," Simeon Djankov - Peterson Institute for International Economics, February 18, 2015

"Greek Surrender: When All Hope is Gone," C. J. Polychroniou - Al Jazeera, February 23, 2015

"The Grexit Dilemma: What Would Happen if Greece Leaves the Eurozone?" Spiegel Staff - Spiegel Online International, February 20, 2015

"Keeping Greece in the Euro is About Far More Than Money," Marc Chandler - Financial Times, February 18, 2015
 

Europe Disunion

"Three EU Dreams That Have Turned Into Nightmares," Christopher Booker - The Telegraph, February 21, 2015

"It's Time to Kick Germany Out of the Eurozone," Patrick Chovanec - Foreign Policy, February 20, 2015
 

Angela Merkel - Iron Lady 2.0

"Who Made Germany Europe's Boss?" Clive Crook - BloombergView, Feburary 22, 2015

"In Merkel We Trust?" Anne Applebaum - Slate, February 20, 2015

"Germany's Real Role in the Ukraine Crisis," Elizabeth Pond and Hans Kundnani - Foreign Affairs, March/April 2015 
 

Smoldering Conflicts

"How to Arm Ukraine Without Starting World War Three," Steven Pifer - Reuters, February 18, 2015

"Georgia Wary of Moscow Deals with South Ossetia and Abkhazia," Kathrin Hille - Financial Times, February 18, 2015

Libya

"Somalia on the Mediterranean," Christopher S. Chivvis - Foreign Policy, February 18, 2015
 

ISIS - What Does It Want and How Pervasive a Threat is It?

"What ISIS Really Wants," Graeme Wood - The Atlantic, March 2015

"Islamic State's Global Ambitions," Jessica Lewis McFate and Harleen Gambhir - The Wall Street Journal, February 22, 2015

"ISIL is a Nuisance, Not a Global Strategic Threat," Tony Karon - The National, February 22, 2015
 

Iraq - Déjà vu?

"Obama's Rushing to Disaster in Iraq," Eli Lake - BloombergView, February 23, 2015
 

Middle East

"Obama is Wrong. Democracy is the Last Thing the Middle East Needs Right Now," David Harsanyi - The Federalist, February 19, 2015
 

U.S.-Israeli Relations

"AIPAC Boycott: It's Time for Washington and Jerusalem to Heal Their Rift and Reaffirm Their Unshakeable Alliance," Editors - The Jerusalem Post, February 22, 2015

"As the U.S. and Europe Turn Away, Israel Looks to Asia," Jonathan Cook - The National, February 23, 2015

Update from Asia

"Is This the Century of the Dragon?" Pepe Escobar - Real Clear World, February 23, 2015

"Singapore and the Asian Century," Gabriele Giovannini and Emanuele Schibotto - The Diplomat, February 19, 2015

"China and the South China Sea Resource Grab," Michael Fabinyi - The Diplomat, February 22, 2015

"Revealed: Why China Would Lose a War Against America," Harry J. Kazianis - The National Interest, February 20, 2015
 

Geopolitics - The Changing Landscape

"The United States Must Resist a Return to Spheres of Interest in the International System," Robert Kagan - Brookings, February 19, 2015

"Post-Cold War Order is Breaking Down," Fyodor Lukyanov - The Moscow Times, February 19, 2015

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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Views on terrorism and updates on Ukraine and the Islamic State - as well as analysis of developments in Israel, Greece, and Turkey. Plus, Latin American mysteries and China's role on the world stage. 

Terrorism

"Danish Attacks Echo France," Griff Witte and Karla Adam - The Washington Post, February 16, 2015

"Copenhagen Attack is a Reminder to Britain," Editorial Staff - The Telegraph, February 15, 2015

"How China Defines Terrorism," Zunyou Zhou - The Diplomat, February 13, 2015
 

Ukraine - Winners and Losers in Minsk

"The War Next Door: Can Merkel's Diplomacy Save Europe?" Spiegel Staff - Spiegel Online International, February 14, 2015

"Ukraine or the Rebels: Who Won in Minsk?" Nicolai N. Petro - The National Interest, February 13, 2015

"Putin Comes Out on Top in New Minsk Agreement," Paul Roderick Gregory - Forbes, February 13, 2015

"The Minsk II Agreement - The Long Game," Gustav Gressel - European Council on Foreign Relations, February 13, 2015

Russia - What is Putin's End Game?

"Russian Resurgence: How the Kremlin is Making Its Presence Felt Across Europe," Ian Traynor and Shaun Walker - The Guardian, February 16, 2015

"Putin's Frozen Conflicts," Robert Orttung and Christopher Walker - Foreign Policy, February 13, 2015

"The American Education of Vladimir Putin," Fiona Hill and Clifford G. Gaddy - The Atlantic, February 16, 2015

"Countering Putin's Grand Strategy," Robert D. Kaplan - The Wall Street Journal, February 11, 2015

ISIS Update

"In Syria, the Enemy of an Enemy is Still an Enemy," Colum Lynch - Foreign Policy, February 12, 2015

"Why the Victory in Kobane Matters," Aron Lund - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, February 13, 2015

"Will ISIS Use Libya as a Springboard to Attack Egypt?" Michael Rubin - Commentary, February 15, 2015

"Boots on the Ground: The Realities in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria," Anthony H. Cordesman - Center for Strategic and International Studies, February 13, 2015

"The Middle East That Might Have Been," Nick Danforth - The Atlantic, February 13, 2015

Israel

"Obama is Pursuing Regime Change in Israel," Aaron David Miller - Foreign Policy, February 12, 2015

"It's the Economy, and Bibi Isn't Stupid," Paul R. Pillar - The National Interest, February 14, 2015

Turkey

"Dreaming of Russia in Ankara," Claire Sadar - Foreign Affairs, February 12, 2015

Greece - Testing the Limits of the European Union

"Don't Blame Greece for the EU's Woes," Stephen Kinzer - Al Jazeera America, February 15, 2015

Latin American Mysteries

"Argentina's Kirchneristas Circle the Wagons," Mac Margolis - BloombergView, February 13, 2015

"Witches of Chiloe'," Mike Dash - Compass Cultura, February 2013

China on the World Stage

"How to Pragmatically Respond to Greater Chinese Activism on the Global Stage," Scott Kennedy - Center for Strategic and International Studies, February 2015

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Councils, if you would like to distribute, please visit the WACA Leadership Network and go to Program Resources for an unformatted version of Weekly World News Update.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Opinion and analysis of the election in Greece, Obama's trip to India, and the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah. Plus, views on Yemen, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, and terrorism in Europe. 

What's Next for Greece - and Europe?

"Greek Election Turmoil for Europe," Douglas J. Elliott - Brookings, January 26, 2015

"Hell is Other European Central Bankers," Walter Russell Mead - The American Interest, January 26, 2015

"So Long, Austerity?" Stathis N. Kalyvas - Foreign Affairs, January 25, 2015

"A New Volkspartei," Xenia Kounalaki - The European, January 26, 2015

"Greece's Alexis Tsipras: The Man Who Could Break Europe," Barbie Latza Nadeau - The Daily Beast, January 24, 2015

"The New Greece of Alexis Tsipras," Judy Dempsey - Real Clear World, January 26, 2015

"Greek Growth Drought is Real Threat to EU," Mark Gilbert - BloombergView, January 26, 2015

Hitting the Reset Button on U.S.-India Relations 

"Why India is Still Hedging its Bets on US," Melissa S. Hersh and Ajey Lele - The National Interest, January 26, 2015

"A New U.S.-India Defense Relationship," Shashank Joshi - Al Jazeera, January 22, 2015

"No Big Ideas in India-U.S. Relations - and That's OK," Milan Vaishnav - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, January 22, 2015 

"Beyond the Immediate Present," Rudra Chaudhuri - The Hindu, January 26, 2015

"Early in Obama's India Visit, A Nuclear Power Breakthrough," Syed Nazakat - The Christian Science Monitor, January 25, 2015
 

Saudi Arabia - The King is Dead; Long Live the King

"U.S.-Saudi Relations After Abdullah," Max Boot - Commentary, January 23, 2015

"Why the U.S. is Stuck with Saudi Arabia," Matt Schiavenza - The Atlantic, January 24, 2015

"King Abdullah: The Middle East's Failed Peacemaker," Christopher Dickey - The Daily Beast, January 23, 2015

"The Dangers of Saudi Succession," Simon Henderson - The Atlantic, January 26, 2015

"Saudi Arabia: Threat From ISIS Will Only Grow," Richard Haass - Financial Times, January 25, 2015

Yemen - From Bad to Worse

"The Ungovernable Yemen," Martin Reardon - Al Jazeera, January 23, 2015

"If Only We'd Just Spent More Blood and Treasure in Yemen," Stephen M. Walt - Foreign Policy, January 23, 2015 

"In Yemen, the Gulf Faces a New Threat: the Americans," Faisal Al Yafai - The National, January 26, 2015

Iran - No Good Choices

"The Emerging Iranian Empire," Charles Krauthammer - National Review Online, January 22, 2015

"Time to Take It to Iran," Dennis Ross, Eric Edelman, and Ray Takeyh - Politico, January 23, 2015

Russia and Ukraine

"Kremlin Hard-Liner: Russians Would 'Rather Starve' Than Surrender Putin to Western Aggressors," Ambrose Evans-Pritchard - The Telegraph, January 23, 2015 

"The Chilly Fallout Between Putin and His Oligarch Pals," Henry Meyer and Irina Reznik - BloombergBusiness, January 23, 2015

"Why War Has Exploded Again in Ukraine," Christopher Miller - Mashable, January 25, 2015

"Ukraine Reignites: Why Russia Should be Added to the State Sponsors of Terrorism List," Taras Kuzio - Foreign Affairs, January 25, 2015
 

Terrorism

"Europe Has Survived Terrorist Attacks Before," Anne Applebaum - The Washington Post, January 23, 2015

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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Updates and analysis concerning terrorism and extremism in Europe, the EU's latest financial challenges, Russia, the Middle East, and the situation in Nigeria. Plus, articles on the global energy market, global trends, and cyber security. 

Global Trends

"Top 10 Trends of 2015," World Economic Forum

"Global Economic Prospects," World Bank Staff with Contributions - The World Bank, January 2015

Understanding the Rise of Terrorism in Europe

"Terrorism in Paris, Sydney the Legacy of Colonial Blunders," Stephen Kinzer - The Boston Globe, January 18, 2015 
 

"How France Grew Its Own Terrorists," M.G. Oprea - The Federalist, January 16, 2015
 

"Terror War Comes to Europe," Tom Wilson - Commentary, January 16, 2015
 

"The Paris Attacks and the Failure of the Republic," Ali Saad - Al Jazeera, January 19, 2015
 

"Why There Are So Many Jihadists in Belgium," Joshua Keating - Slate, January 15, 2015

Responding to Terrorists - and Nationalists

"Think Before You March," Stephen M. Walt - Foreign Policy, January 16, 2015

"Down with La Lacita - to Beat Islamism, We Need a Secularism that Encourages Religion," Ed Husain and Peter Welby - The Spectator, January 16, 2015

"Let's Talk, Pegida!" Christopher Gohl - The European, January 19, 2015 

Eurozone - A Shocking Move by the Swiss Adds to the EU's Financial Woes

"Making Sense of the Swiss Shock," Markus Brunnermeier and Harold James - Project Syndicate, January 17, 2015

"What the Wild Swiss Franc Appreciation Really Means," Edward Harrison - Foreign Policy, January 16, 2015

"Not Even Mario Draghi Can Save Europe Now," Editorial Team - BloombergView, January 19, 2015

"A 'Merkel Plan' for Europe," Bill Emmott - Project Syndicate, January 19, 2015 

Russia - Making New Friends; Searching for Common Ground with Foes 

"Authoritarian Drift at the Banks of the Black Sea," Dominique Moisi - Real Clear World, January 19, 2015

"The EU and Russia: Values or Interests?" Judy Dempsey - Real Clear World, January 19, 2015

Politics in the Middle East

"Israel's Potentially Existential Election," Paul Scham - Middle East Institute, January 17, 2015

"How Long Can Mahmoud Abbas Hold On?" Dalia Hatuqa - Foreign Policy, January 16, 2015

"Netanyahu and Europe's Far Right Find Common Ground," Jonathan Cook - The National, January 18, 2015 

Arab Spring - Four Years On

"Is Egypt on the Verge of Another Uprising?" Thanassis Cambanis - The Atlantic, January 16, 2015

"The Problem with Libya's Peace Talks," Amanda Kadlec - Foreign Policy, January 16, 2015

U.S. and Iran Continue to Talk (and Talk)

"Iran's End-Game Strategy in Nuclear Negotiations," G. William Heiser and Amir Abbas Fakhravar - Real Clear World, January 19, 2015

"Can the U.S.-Iran Rift be Healed?" Colin Nickerson - The Boston Globe, January 17, 2015 

Nigeria - Responding (or Not) to a Massacre and Preparing for an Election

"Boko Haram Attacks: Why Isn't Nigerian Civil Society Protesting Terrorism," Eliza Anyangwe - The Guardian, January 14, 2015 

"When Normal is Deadly: How Boko Haram Made Us Okay with Slaughter," Joe Randazzo - The Daily Beast, January 18, 2015

"Goodluck Jonathan: From Poor Boy to Accidental President," Monica Mark - The Guardian, January 17, 2015 

Playing Politics with Energy

"Sofia's Choice," Keith Johnson - Foreign Policy, January 16, 2015

Cyber Security

"The Digital Arms Race: NSA Preps America for Future Battle," Jacob Appelbaum, Aaron Gibson, Claudio Guarnieri, Andy Müller-Maguhn, Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach, Leif Ryge, Hilmar Schmundt and Michael Sontheimer - Spiegel Online International, January 17, 2015

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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

This week's news digest focuses primarily on the events in Paris - their roots, reactions, and consequences. Scroll down for analysis and opinion concerning Greece and the euro zone, Russia and Ukraine, as well as Syria and ISIS. 

The Attacks in Paris - Roots of Radicalization

"The Forgotten War That Spawned Paris's Attacks," Adam Baron - The Daily Beast, January 11, 2015

"Quelle Surprise? The Attacks in Paris Were Terrible. But We Should have Seen it Coming," Aaron David Miller - Foreign Policy, January 11, 2015

The Attacks in Paris - Reflection and Outrage
"France's 9/11," Dominique Moisi - San Francisco Chronicle, January 9, 2015

"This is No Time for Europe to Retreat," Judy Dempsey - Real Clear World, January 12, 2015

"To Call the Paris Attacks a 'War' Dignifies Pointless Slaughter," Janet Daley - The Telegraph, January 10, 2015

"A Win for the Jihadists," Jonah Goldberg - National Review Online, January 9, 2015

"Paris Killings Require More Than Mere Condemnation," H.A. Hellyer - Brookings, January 8, 2015

"Terrorist Acts, Not Cartoons Provoke Islamophobia," Hussein Ibish - The National, January 11, 2015

"Let's Talk About the Other Dead Journalists," Rafia Zakaria - Al Jazeera America, January 10, 2015

The Attacks in Paris - Consequences and Options

"The Battle From Algiers: Lessons from the Charlie Hebdo Attack," Robin Simcox - Foreign Affairs, January 12, 2015

"If Europe is to Overcome Islamist Terror, It Needs to Fight for the Values It Holds Dear," Paul Mason - The Guardian, January 11, 2015

"Tearing Up the Magna Carta: Fear Risks Trumping Civil Liberties in a Europe Rattled by Islamist Terrorism," Colum Lynch and Jamila Trindle - Foreign Policy, January 9, 2015

"Do Jews Have a Future in France?" James Kirchick - The Daily Beast, January 10, 2015

The Attacks in Paris - Playing Politics

"Le Pen's Moment," Philip Gourevitch - The New Yorker, January 10, 2015

"What Else was Paraded in Paris?" Michael Marder - Al Jazeera, January 12, 2015

"Abbas in Paris: Hypocrisy Isn't Progress," Jonathan S. Tobin - Commentary, January 11, 2015

"For Cameron and Miliband, Paris is Act One of the UK General Election," Matthew d'Ancona - The Guardian, January 11, 2015

Turmoil in the Eurozone as Threat of a "Grexit" Looms

"A Greek Euro Exit Would Hurt Europe - But Not as Much as It Would Hurt Greece," Katinka Barysch - The Guardian, January 9, 2015

"Weighing the Options the Greeks Face," Jacob Funk Kirkegaard - Newsweek, January 9, 2015

"The Greek Tragedy," Creston Davis - The European, January 10, 2015

"Europe's Lapse of Reason," Joseph E. Stiglitz - Project Syndicate, January 8, 2015

Ukraine/Russia - Assigning Blame and Assessing Options

"Who is to Blame?" Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and James Stavridis - Horizons, Winter 2015

"A New Policy to Rescue Ukraine," George Soros - The New York Review of Books, February 5, 2015

"Two Cheers for Obama's Ukraine Policy," David W. Kearn - The Huffington Post, January 9, 2015

"What to Do About - or With - Russia?" Walter C. Clemens, Jr. - The Diplomat, January 9, 2015

Syria/ISIS - New Threats and a New Solution?

"Assad's Secret: Evidence Points to Syrian Push for Nuclear Weapons," Erich Follath - Spiegel Online International, January 9, 2015 

"Encouraging Regional Ownership of the Fight Against the Islamic State," Daniel Levy and Ellie Geranmayeh - European Council on Foreign Relations, January 12, 2015

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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Opinion and analysis concerning North Korea, Cuba, Russia, the Middle East, as well as Greece and the Eurozone. Plus, reflections on 2014 and views on what to watch in 2015.

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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Views and analysis on Russia/Ukraine, the Middle East, and Europe. Plus, articles on the global energy market and global health. Scroll down for opinions on U.S. foreign policy and the changing of the guard at the Pentagon.

Later today, look out for our top book picks for 2014 - culled from many of the same publications that serve as sources for these weekly news digests.

What's Next on Russia's Agenda?

"It's Time for the West to Re-Evaluate Its Whole Approach to Russia," Matthew Sussex - The Interpreter, December 8, 2014
 

"The West's Containment Folly," Peter Harris - The National Interest, December 8, 2014
 

"Moldova is Next Battleground for Russia and EU," Judy Dempsey - The Moscow Times, December 4, 2014 

Ukraine 

"The Greatest Challenge to U.S.-European Security Cooperation Today: The Ukraine Crisis," Ian Bond, Denis Corboy, William Courtney, Michael Haltzel, and Kenneth Yalowitz - The National Interest, December 8, 2014
 

"What Will Happen With Eastern Ukraine?" Kadri Liik and Andrew Wilson - European Council on Foreign Relations, December 2014 

Iran: Ally and Antagonist 

"U.S. Accuses Iran of Secretly Breaching U.N. Nuclear Sanctions," Colum Lynch - Foreign Policy, December 8, 2014
 

"A Nuclear Deal With Iran Will Require the West to Reevaluate its Presumptions," Eric Edelman, Dennis Ross, and Ray Takeyh - The Washington Post, December 4, 2014
 

"Iran: A Not So Unlikely Ally," Ibrahim Al-Marashi - Al Jazeera, December 8, 2014 

Syria

"In Syria, a Last Gasp Warning for U.S. Influence," Charles Lister - Brookings, December 5, 2014 

ISIS Update 

"The Vortex," Robin Wright - The New Yorker, December 8, 2014 

Israel/Palestine: A Conflict Without a Resolution? 

"The Power and Weakness of Inciting Violence," Shibley Telhami - The Washington Post, December 5, 2014
 

"Thinking Outside the Oslo Box," Mark LeVine and Mathias Mossberg - Al Jazeera America, December 6, 2014
 

"Five Reasons to Recognize a Palestinian State," Hugh Lovatt and Mattia Toaldo - European Council on Foreign Relations, December 8, 2014 

The New Europe? 

"Let the Next Generation Speak Up for Europe," Timothy Garton Ash - The Guardian, December 7, 2014 

Global Energy Market 

"South Stream, Russia and Turkey: What Does The Deal Mean?" Stephen Blank - The Turkey Analyst, December 3, 2014
 

"EU, U.S. Promote Alternative Projects, Following South Stream Failure," James Crisp - EurActiv, December 4, 2014
 

"The Promise and Peril of Falling Oil Prices," Mark Kennedy - Foreign Policy, December 5, 2014 

Global Health 

"The Most Dangerous Emerging Disease is Drug Resistance," Katrin Elger, and Veronika Hackenbroch - Spiegel Online International, December 8, 2014

Views on U.S. Foreign Policy

"Debunking Retreat Argument Against Obama's Foreign Policy," Michael A. Cohen - The Boston Globe, December 4, 2014
 

"Why the Pacific Matters to the Rebalance," Gregory B. Poling and James Hurndell - Center for Strategic and International Studies, December 4, 2014
 

"The Obama Administration: From Ending Two Wars to Engagement in Five With the Risk of a Sixth," Anthony H. Cordesman - Center for Strategic and International Studies, December 3, 2014 
 

National Security

"Ash Carter vs. Barack Obama's Yogi Berra Foreign Policy," David Rothkopf - Foreign Policy, December 4, 2014

"Can Ash Carter Save the Pentagon?" Michael Auslin - National Review Online, December 8, 2014

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Councils, if you would like to distribute, please visit the WACA Leadership Network and go to Program Resources for an unformatted version of Weekly World News Update.

Please acknowledge that this product was produced by the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and distributed nationwide by the World Affairs Councils of America.

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The World Affairs Councils of America 

1200 18th St., NW, Suite 902, Washington, DC 20036

Phone (202) 833-4557  Fax (202) 833-4555

Email waca@worldaffairscouncils.org Website www.worldaffairscouncils.org