Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorals -- December 11, 2017

Amie Ferris-Rotman, Haaretz: Putin’s Surprise Withdrawal From Syria Is Part of His Master Election Plan

Days after announcing his plan to seek reelection next March, the Russian president tells his countrymen their sons are coming home from an unpopular and costly war

What better way to jump-start an election campaign than to end an unpopular and costly war?

Just days after announcing his bid to seek reelection next year, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday made a surprise visit to Syria, where he ordered the withdrawal of most Russian troops from the country. “You are coming home with a victory the motherland is waiting for you, my friends,” Putin told military personnel, before embracing Syrian President Bashar Assad at the Khmeimim air base.
read more: https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/.premium-1.828377

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorals -- December 11, 2017

Why Syria Could Become the Black Hole of the Middle East -- Daniel R. DePetris, National Interest

Whirlwind Putin Tour Highlights Moscow's New Reach in Mideast -- New York Times

Moscow’s leverage in Syria is strong, but limited -- Maxim A. Suchkov, Al-Monitor

The pundits were wrong about Assad and the Islamic State. As usual, they're not willing to admit it -- Max Abrahms and John Glaser, L.A. Times

A look at Egypt-Russia relations as Putin visits Cairo -- AP

Congress Has Chosen the Wrong Strategy to Deal with Russia -- Nicolai N. Petro, National Interest

What Putin Really Wants -- Julia Ioffe, The Atlantic

How Jerusalem issue plays into Iranian, Turkish (and Russian) hands -- M.K. Bhadrakumar, Asia Times

Why the ‘Arab street’ didn’t just explode -- Ralph Peters

When the 'Arab Street' Comes to Sweden -- Noah Feldman, Bloomberg

Does Europe Really Need Fiscal and Political Union? -- Dani Rodrik, Project Syndicate

'EU must recognize historic opportunity to solve Kosovo issue' -- Adelheid Feilcke, DW

Corsica's nationalists dream bigger after election win -- Paul Ortoli, Reuters

Maduro’s dirty electoral tricks -- Benigno Alarcón, CapX

Trump’s courage and cunning confound his opponents -- David P. Goldman, Asia Times

Why is America Addicted to Foreign Interventions? -- Monica Duffy Toft, National Interest