Eli Lake, Bloomberg: The Philippines Just Blew Up Obama's Asia Pivot
Does anyone remember President Barack Obama's pivot to Asia? The plan was to focus diplomatic and military assets in East Asia to contain a rising China. It was one of the reasons Obama said he was shrinking the American footprint in the Middle East.
Well, the pivot is failing. On Thursday, the president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, announced to an audience at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing a "separation" with the U.S. "America has lost now,” he said. "And maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It’s the only way."
Two things should be said here.
Rad more ....
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- October 21, 2016
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced his 'separation' from the US — here's what that means -- Elena Holodny, Business Insider
U.S. warship challenges China's claims in South China Sea -- Idrees Ali and Matt Spetalnick, Reuters
China May Be Rising, But America Is Not in Retreat -- Rajan Menon, National Interest
What Is the Islamic State Without a State? -- Uri Friedman, The Atlantic
Are Turkey and Iraq Headed for War in Mosul? -- Zalmay Khalilzad, National Interest
Lebanon is a sectarian nation, yet it has avoided civil war while the Middle East burns – here's why -- Robert Fisk, The Independent
How Yemen’s war is now threatening international trade -- Amal Nasser, Al-Monitor
Opinion: Iran Nuke Deal Will Spawn More Proxy Attacks Like The Ones In Yemen -- Capt. Sean R. Liedman USN (Retired), USNI News
Lebanese oligarchy preserves its interests once again -- Rami G Khouri, Al Jazeera
China's failed South Korea embrace -- J Berkshire Miller, Al Jazeera
Americans are still dying in Afghanistan. Clinton and Trump are ignoring it. -- Yochi Dreazen, VOX
The threat from Russia -- The Economist
Think Canada is a progressive paradise? That’s mooseshit -- Jesse Brown, The Guardian
Why Today’s Attacks on the Internet Are Just the Start -- Kevin Beaumont, Daily Beast
