Reuters
Alexander Kudascheff, DW: Endgame in Syria?
While plans are being made for more talks in Geneva, Russia and Assad are creating facts on the ground by attacking Aleppo. But one player in particular will emerge the winner, says Alexander Kudascheff.
Syria's conflict appears to be approaching an endgame. Bashar al-Assad is regaining the upper hand - with Russian help, partly in the guise of massive air support, and probably also with massive logistical and technical assistance for the Syrian army on the ground. The struggle for Aleppo has taken on the character of a decisive turning point. If Assad's troops recapture the city completely, the Syrian despot will have won more than just a battle: He will again become the all-dominant factor in a Syria that is burning and devastated. Syrian citizens, however, would still only have the choice either to flee, to conform or to die.
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 8, 2016
Battle for Aleppo: Who's fighting on what side and why this siege could be a turning point in Syria -- Samuel Osborne, The Independent
Syria’s Peace of the Grave -- Wall Street editorial
What does Russia want in Syria? 5 reasons Putin backs Assad -- Matthew Chance, CNN
Analysis: How Russia keeps piling pressure on Turkey -- Justin Bronk, Al Jazeera
North Korea’s Mystery Bomb -- Jeremy Bernstein, New York Review Of Books
Why China won’t punish North Korea for its rocket launch -- Christopher Green, The Guardian
China Struggles for Balance in Response to North Korea’s Boldness -- Jane Perlez & Choe Sang-Hun, NYT
Why does China continue to protect North Korea? It has a lot less to do with communism than you’d think -- Mark Beeson, The Independent
To protect Chinese investment, Pakistan military leaves little to chance -- Syed Raza Hassan, Reuters
Libya Winning Race for Site of Obama’s Next War? -- Amercain Interest
The Horrors of Boko Haram -- NYT Editorial
Will Poland ever uncover the truth about the plane crash that killed its president? -- Alex Duval Smith, The Guardian
Russia having success in hybrid war against Germany -- Lucian Kim, Reuters
10 maps that explain Russia's strategy -- George Friedman, Business Insider/Mauldin Economics
Dueling data blur Venezuelan murder rate -- Jim Wyss, Kansas City
Will it be Paris or Calgary, Mr. Trudeau? -- Rex Murphy, National Post
