There was no other way to end the political logjam in conflict-ridden Afghanistan than to make President Ashraf Ghani and outgoing Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah agree to share power. The deal has been welcomed by the international community, but there are deeper obstacles to the peace process.
Read article
Turkey is openly disgruntled over the US-backed effort to unite disparate Syrian Kurdish factions that kicked off last month.
by Gary C. Gambill
May 12, 2020
https://www.meforum.org/60908/schanzer-the-cause-of-the-middle-easts-next-war
By John Toolan Jr., RealClearDefense: "Iranian proxies in Iraq are pinning ISIS’s resurgence on the United States. Iran’s longtime goal has been to undermine America’s regional commitment and provoke U.S. attacks that draw Iraqi condemnation. The United States should avoid a tit-for-tat with Iran or its proxies and instead launch a concerted effort to roll back Iran’s military presence in the country."
Keep Expectations Modest for Iraq’s New Government
By Douglas A. Ollivant, War on the Rocks: "“Iraq is like a race car that has been neglected and repeatedly wrecked. Al-Kadhimi is not the race car driver. He’s the tow truck driver.”"