Section: The Huffington Post (USA)
After Turkey-Russia Clash, NATO Shouldn’t Derail an Ad Hoc Anti-Terror Coalition
MOSCOW — The Syrian crisis has deteriorated dramatically, moving from armed struggle mostly against non-state, and therefore barely identifiable, groups to a direct clash between major military powers. But this transformation was hardly unpredictable. When armed forces of major countries operate in an explosive region concurrently without...
What is Putinism?
In the early 2000s, Vladimir Putin seemed to be a pragmatic politician. However, since then his actions have become weighed down with an anti-Western ideology nourished by references to certain conservative Russian philosophers. Could he have taken a step backwards when he became a point of reference for all the “non-aligned” and...
Francois Hollande’s Finest Hour
As a longtime writer on French politics who was critical of François Hollande’s performance since the feckless early days of his presidency, it’s gratifying to report that Hollande is finally taking the measure of his job and the responsibility it carries. Re-forged in the crucible of terrorist attacks in Paris last Friday, November...
Suspected Architect Of Paris Attacks Was Planning Another, Says Prosecutor
PARIS (AP) — The latest on the deadly attacks in Paris and the heightened security in Europe. All times local:7: 10 p.m.Prosecutor Francois Molins says the suspected mastermind of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, is believed to have been planning a suicide attack on the French capital’s La Defense business district on Nov. 18 or...
Why the West Should Now See the Sense in Russia’s Mideast Policies
MOSCOW — Although it will take time to truly evaluate the consequences of the Nov. 13 massacre in Paris for the French, European and world politics, some conclusions can be made now. The attacks will almost inevitably lead to an escalation of war in Iraq and Syria, as well as to changes in the balance of forces in the Middle East as a...
Turkey Downs Putin’s Agenda
Russia had it coming. Turkish fighter jets today shot down a Russian Su-24 in what was allegedly a violation of its airspace. Russia promptly denied the transgression but Turkey remains adamant it only acted in self-defense — and after giving multiple warnings. If proven right, it won’t be the first time Russian jets have made...
Why the Paris Attacks May Signal the European Union’s Final Fracture
One core narrative of the European Union goes like this: Whenever there is a crisis, the union will emerge from it even stronger. This narrative was invoked during the sovereign debt crisis, followed by the Greek debacle. It is being invoked as the refugee influx continues to swell. And now it is already being trotted out again in the wake of the...
Will Chess, Not Battleship, Be the Game of the Future in Eurasia?
Silk Roads, Night Trains, and the Third Industrial Revolution in ChinaCross-posted with TomDispatch.comThe U.S. is transfixed by its multibillion-dollar electoral circus. The European Union is paralyzed by austerity, fear of refugees, and now all-out jihad in the streets of Paris. So the West might be excused if it’s barely caught the...
With Paris, ISIS Has Declared War on Us. Here’s How We Should Respond.
The ISIS attack in Paris was an attack on our global community. This will not end. We have to face this fact. The target of these attackers was non-combatant innocents. They will attack again. As much as we abhor the idea of more ground action in the Middle East, this is going to take concerted, long-term international military and civil action....
Ukraine: Stop Harassing Us Over Oppressed Minorities — We’re Too Busy Fighting Russia
Though it’s not commonly known, Ukraine’s LGBT community played a significant role in the Maidan revolution which toppled the unpopular government of Viktor Yanukovych some two years ago. Careful not to upset or alienate conservative nationalist elements at the Maidan, LGBT protesters made a tactical decision not to promote their...
