The end of this phase of the Prigozhin story. With Wagner sources hinting the plane was shot down a new phase might begin. pic.twitter.com/cDJrcmxys2
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) August 23, 2023
Hamdi Malik and Michael Knights write: Signs of real tension between HaN (including its offshoots AK and the Iraqi Basij) and other muqawama and Coordination Framework actors require ongoing, detailed monitoring. New efforts by the Iraqi Basij to hold protests or other events in the two main shrine cities would indicate continued defiance; the same message might be conveyed if AK aggressively regrows its Telegram channel (probably via paid bots). It will also be interesting to see whether AK and the Iraqi Basij try to damage AAH electoral campaigns in the leadup to this December’s provincial elections. – Washington Institute
Addiction to captagon, an amphetamine-type pill nicknamed the “poor man’s cocaine,” has been a serious problem in Gulf Arab states — especially among Saudi Arabia’s youth, with one Saudi commentator speaking recently of a “devastating amount of poison” being brought to the kingdom. – Bloomberg
Ethan Bronner writes: A deal is being negotiated that, if completed, would result in Saudi Arabia, for the first time, establishing warm relations with Israel. The main thing the Saudis would get in exchange — security guarantees — wouldn’t come from Israel but from its closest ally — the US. Israel, a high-tech power, would play a major role in ambitious Saudi plans to move its economy beyond oil. It would also be expected to make concessions to the Palestinian self-ruling authority in the West Bank. The US would regain some of its influence over Saudi Arabia, stemming efforts by China to expand its sway in the Middle East. The deal offers significant rewards to all four governments, not least of them additional ways of dealing with Iranian military activity in the region. But the prospect of the pact stirs populist forces among all of their constituencies, posing risks to those in power. – Bloomberg
Desmond Lachman | New York Post
We should be grateful that despite all its imperfections, the United States’ democratic and free-market economic system allows it to continue being the high-tech innovative envy of the world and offering its citizens a continually rising standard of living.
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Katherine Zimmerman | Routledge
interview with Bjorn Lomborg via The Rubin Report
Hoover Institution fellow Bjorn Lomborg talks about efficient solutions for global problems; the need to prioritize spending on the most effective solutions to address issues such as climate change, poverty, education, and health care; and several cost-effective solutions.