U.S. soldiers conduct a safety briefing during a small arms range training exercise on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, July 31, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Chad A. Dulac
Why Russia Is Worried About The “Zero Option” In Afghanistan -- Andrew S. Bowen, The Diplomat
With America’s decade-long entanglement in Afghanistan coming to a close, the debate over the size and scale of any remaining American involvement in the country has come to the forefront of Washington’s policymaking circuit. From the Department of Defense and the State Department, to USAID and the White House, discussions are being held over not only how many U.S. troops should remain in the country after the withdrawal deadline of the end of 2014, but also on the potential abilities and effects that a force would have—especially regarding the potential of the U.S. retaining no troops in the country, the so called “Zero Option.” Afghanistan, Pakistan, the U.S., and to a lesser degree India and China, are all involved or carefully watching the debates, as vital national interests would be altered, depending on the U.S. commitment after 2014.
Read more ....
Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials
Jihadis claims responsibility for failed Israel attack, but did they really do it? -- Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor
One-State Dream, One-State Nightmare -- Roger Cohen, New York Times
Owning the Mideast Peace Process -- Barry Rubin, Jerusalem Post
The Failed State of Egypt? -- Barak Barfi, Project Syndicate
What’s the matter with Egypt’s liberals? -- By Max Fisher, Washington Post
Mali’s New President-Elect Faces a Long, Hard Road Ahead -- Aryn Baker, Time
Dangerous Congressional Meddling in the South China Sea -- Ted Galen Carpenter, Real Clear World
Afghanistan’s Rare Earth Element Bonanza -- Alan W. Dowd, The American
So You Think The Euro Crisis Is Over? Time To Think Again -- Jeremy Warner, Telegraph
Northern Ireland’s growing burden of bankruptcies -- Francess McDonnell, Irish Times
The (Russian) Arctic is open for business -- Michael Byers, The Globe and Mail
Raul Castro’s empty talk on civility in Cuba -- Washington Post editorial
Terror Retooled: Al-Qaida Thinks Globally But Acts Locally -- Christoph Reuter, Spiegel Online
