Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 31, 2017



Allison Fedirka, Geopolitical Futures: Are China and India on the Road to War?

In mid-June, a remote area called the Dolam plateau in the Himalayas where the boundaries of China, India and Bhutan meet made headlines when Indian and Chinese troops began a standoff over a road construction project. China conducted a live-fire exercise in the area, and there have been false reports of deaths. Diplomatic efforts are underway to de-escalate the situation, but still the risk of war has been on everyone’s mind.

The terrain and weather in the area, located in a region called Doklam, are anathema to war. And yet, almost exactly 55 years ago, China and India fought briefly over this and other contested border areas. So what is the strategic value of this seemingly obscure plateau? And would India and China really go to war again over it?

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 31, 2017

U.S. has responsibilities in Iraq and Syria post-Islamic State -- Wa'el Alzayat, UPI/The Arab Weekly

Inside Iran’s Mission To Dominate The Middle East -- Borzou Daragahi, Buzz Feed

After Raqqa’s Fall -- Nabeel Khoury, Cairo Review Of Global Affairs

Netanyahu Loses His Cool in a Summer of Crises -- Daniel Gordis, Bloomberg

America's next Security Competition Will Be in Central Asia -- Ariel Cohen, National Interest

What U.S. Knew About NK's 2nd ICBM Launch Ahead of Time -- Ankit Panda, Diplomat

North Korea’s ICBM Test is a Win for Iran -- Ted Poe, National Interest

Chinese Spy Ships: The Devil in the Detail -- Sam Bateman, Lowy Institute

Pakistan’s Generals Strike Again: Sharif’s Ouster Is a Scary Shake-Up -- Bruce Riedel, Daily Beast

U.S. Sanctions Are Another Gift to Putin -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

US-Russia ties at new low with expulsions of diplomats -- Vladimir Isachenkov, AP

The U.S. and Russia: A Lesson in Asymmetry -- Stratfor

Russia Signals Tough Pragmatism toward the United States -- George Beebe, National Interest

How Mexican Cartels Prey on Chicago's Chaos -- Jeremy Kryt, Daily Beast

Venezuela’s Unprecedented Collapse -- Ricardo Hausmann, Project Syndicate

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