Anyone hoping to leave the turbulence of 2017 in the past will be in for a rude awakening. While we can’t know for certain what will unfold in the year to come, observable trends in several countries, including the U.S., give us a glimpse of what to expect in 2018.
First, in general, this will be an even more tempestuous year than 2017 was both in the U.S. and abroad. The wars in Ukraine and Syria will continue namely because Moscow cannot let go of Ukraine without admitting defeat, which is intolerable to Putin and his regime.
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 2, 2018
The best way to respond to Iran protests -- Amir Handjani, Reuters
Iran protests could hurt clerics but Rouhani has most to lose, say insiders -- Reuters
Democracy in Iran? The Demographics Say Yes -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg
Will Iran's Latest Protest Movement Tip the Scales? -- Geneive Abdo, National Interest
Turkey and Israel, Recently Reconciled, Begin a War of Words -- Shira Efron, The Cipher Brief
America Would Benefit from a Balance of Power in the Persian Gulf -- Doug Bandow, National Interest
South Korea quick to warm to Kim’s Olympics icebreaker -- Andrew Salmon, Asia Times
ISIS in Afghanistan Is Like a Balloon That Won’t Pop -- Krishnadev Calamur, The Atlantic
Russia's Afghanistan Strategy: How Moscow Is Preparing to Go It Alone -- Julia Gurganus, Foreign Affairs
China can help bring peace to Afghanistan -- SCMP Editorial
What Donald Trump can really do to 'rein in' Pakistan -- Shamil Shams, DW
Foreign Fighters and Mercenaries Fueling Libyan Conflict -- By Joseph Hammond
Africa heads in different directions – politically and economically -- The Guardian
Putin’s Medieval Dreams -- Dina Khapaeva, Project Syndicate
Russia Will Retaliate After U.S. Supplies Lethal Weapons To Ukraine -- Daniel DePetris, Breaking Defense