Alex Massie, Spectator
Events have a multiplier effect. And when they come in bunches the effect can be overpowering.
Chas Freeman, National Interest
But this is nonsense. Our estrangement from the Middle East derives from trends that are much deeper than the manifest deficiencies of executive and congressional leadership in Washington. Americans and our partners in the Middle East have developed contradictory interests and priorities. Where shared values existed at all, they have increasingly diverged. There have been massive changes in geoeconomics, energy markets, power balances, demographics, religious ideologies... Читать дальше...
Tobin Harshaw, Bloomberg View
Not only is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi replaceable, his successor could pose an even bigger threat, especially if he chose not to declare himself caliph of the Muslim world. That would open the possibility of Islamic State mending fences with other Sunni terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda and its Syrian affiliate the Al Nusra Front, which is emerging as the most potent military force in that nation's civil war.
Indira A.R. Lakshmanan, Globe
Faced with a Sophie's Choice between keeping a Saudi-led coalition on a blacklist and losing critical funds for lifesaving programs, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is in a no-win situation.
Ben Caspit, Al-Monitor
Israeli security experts point out that despite severe restrictions on arms sales, Palestinian terrorists can manufacture their own submachine guns and could launch massive attacks â like in Orlando.
David Ignatius, Washington Post
With Venezuela spinning into chaos and collapse, the Obama administration has pondered how to nudge the imploding nation toward political change -- without making Uncle Sam a target. The administration appears to have found the right formula this week.
Anthony Dipaola & Grant Smith, Bloomberg
Iran easily beat expectations with its speed in boosting oil exports after the lifting of sanctions. Without an injection of cash and the easing of remaining trade barriers, the recovery may have run its course.
Mary Dejevsky, The Independent
The screensaver on my computer shows an 18th century painting of the Thames river crossing that gave its name to today's Horseferry Road. With its disorderly congestion and still recognisably London backdrop, the depiction bears a striking resemblance to the pictures of this week's delightful fracas between the rival flotillas of Nigel Farage (Leave) and Bob Geldof (Remain). Why did we have to wait so long for time out from the serious business of the referendum campaign?
Neal Ascherson, New York Times
On Thursday, Britons will vote in a referendum on whether their country should stay in the European Union or leave it. If a majority opts for âÂÂBrexit,â a long earthquake begins. It will topple the old facade of Britishness. It will disrupt, perhaps fatally, the foundations of European unity. The sense of a fateful moment suddenly peaked today, when Jo Cox, a young Labor member of Parliament, was shot to death outside her Yorkshire offices by a man said to have yelled... Читать дальше...
Aaron Klein & DJ Nordquist, Brookings Institution
On June 23rd, the future of the European Union may be decided. Will Europe stick together through thick and thin, or is it starting to come apart at the seams? Should the UK vote to leave, âÂÂBrexitâ will be a big deal for the entire global economy and specifically for the world's financial markets.
Kristen Gelineau, AP
SYDNEY (AP) â The election campaign underway in Australia is often summed up by the local media with the following words: "A marathon." ''Endless." ''Exhausting." That endless, exhausting marathon lasts a whopping eight weeks.
Daniel Kochis & Luke Coffey, Heritage
The U.S. must push for increased defense spending among NATO members at the 2016 Warsaw Summit.
Kenneth Vogel, Politico
As Ferdinand Marcos used his fortune to try to cling to power, he found a willing ally in Donald Trump's campaign chairman.
Meier & Trapp, Bulletin
On March 1, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed that the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament should negotiate a convention for the suppression of acts of chemical terrorism.
Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic
Trump's recent statements about Obama grow from a neurotic belief in the president's malevolent otherness: On ISIS, Trump said, Obama âÂÂdoesn't get it, or he gets it better than anybody understands.â Barack Obama, to Donald Trump, is, and will forever be, the Manchurian PresidentâÂÂManchuria, by way of Kenya, with a detour in Raqqa.
Semih Idiz, Al-Monitor
Ankara is angry after Berlin adopted a nonbinding resolution recognizing the mass killing of Armenians in 1915 as genocide, but Turkey is wary of undermining important ties with Germany.
Dragan Pavlicevic, The Diplomat
Debunking four myths about China's âÂÂ16+1â³ platform with Central and Eastern Europe.Ã
Judy Dempsey et al, Carnegie Europe
No, the West has not forgotten Ukraine. However, the policy agendas of the EU and the United States are crowded.
Yojana Sharma, In Facts
A favourite post-referendum model for Brexiteers offers a warning.
John Bolton, Pittsburgh Trib. Review
Polls show British voters remain closely divided just before their June 23 referendum on whether to remain in the European Union or leave (dubbed ''Brexit'' ...
Kaj Leers, RealClearWorld
The EU summit on June 28-29 in Amsterdam promises to run hot, as leaders of the member states clash over a number of topics.Ã This at a time when public confidence in the European Union's ability to solve problems is diminishing fast.
