Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- February 12, 2014

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YOil6Yh25_E" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pakistan Kneels To The Taliban -- Myra MacDonald, War On The Rocks </b></span></div><br />Pakistan has been in a state of perpetual crisis for so long that it can be easy to miss the periodic lurches that bring it closer to state collapse. One such step-change is underway now, triggered by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s decision to hold talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Even for a country that has history of pulling itself back from the brink, this particular lurch downwards is one of the more alarming in years.<br /><br />At issue is not the talks per se, but the form they are taking, which is legitimising and emboldening the TTP. It is also the context. Sharif’s approach to the talks has raised suspicions that he is interested only in protecting Punjab, Pakistan’s biggest province and his political heartland. That in turn has exacerbated ethnic divisions, undermining further the authority and the integrity of the state. The TTP and their allies – who are demanding the imposition of their form of sharia across Pakistan – are positioning themselves to fill the vacuum.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://warontherocks.com/2014/02/pakistan-kneels-to-the-taliban/">Read more </a></b>....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/syria-39-homs-evacuee-tells-life-under-siege-193324080.html">Syria's Homs: Evacuee tells of life under siege</a> -- Diaa Hadid, AP<br /><br /><a href="http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2014/02/10/the-bitter-results-of-middle-east-failure/">The bitter results of Middle East failure</a> -- Adm. James "Ace" Lyons (Ret.), Center For Security Policy<br /><br /><a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/02/hamid-karzai-afghanistan-103330.html?ml=m_t2_2h#.UvwAKYW0ykN">What Is Hamid Karzai Thinking?</a> -- Peter Tomsen, Politico<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/02/12/217913/hostilities-seen-as-unlikely-between.html">Hostilities seen as unlikely between China, Taiwan; agreement, too</a> -- Stuart Leavenworth, McClatchy<br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2014/0212/Rival-Koreas-are-talking-again.-What-are-they-saying">Rival Koreas are talking again. What are they saying?</a> -- Donald Kirk, Christian Science Monitor<br /><br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-japan-china-pr-idUSBREA1B24520140212">Japan on backfoot in global PR war with China after Abe shrine visit </a>-- Linda Sieg and Ben Blanchard, Reuters<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/ian-bremmer/2014/02/11/is-the-china-japan-relationship-at-its-worst/">Is the China-Japan relationship ‘at its worst’?</a> -- Ian Bremmer, Reuters<br /><br /><a href="http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2014/02/12/obama_turns_a_blind_eye_to_the_russian_rogue_state_110285.html">Obama Turns a Blind Eye to the Russian Rogue State</a> -- Rebeccah Heinrichs, Real Clear World<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/178344/distorting-russia#">Distorting Russia: How the American media misrepresent Putin, Sochi and Ukraine.</a> -- Stephen F. Cohen, The Nation<br /><br /><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/yanukovych-waffles-as-ukraine-protests-continue-a-952586.html">Dithering in Kiev: Russia Begins to Lose Patience with Ukraine</a> -- Christian Neef, Spiegel Online<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/comment/poll-shock-as-swiss-vote-to-slam-the-door-shut-20140210-32cpx.html">Poll shock as Swiss vote to slam the door shut </a>-- Peter Hartcher, Sydney Morning Herald<br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0212/How-Greece-s-economic-crisis-filled-the-Athens-sky-with-smog">How Greece's economic crisis filled the Athens sky with smog</a> -- Nikolia Apostolou, Christian Science Monitor<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ad524ca8-9031-11e3-a776-00144feab7de.html#axzz2t16M2Tgm">The Threat of Another Euro Crisis</a> -- Gideon Rachman, Financial Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2014/02/12/press-freedom-index-dose-of-reality/#more-841531">Press Freedom Index Dose of Reality </a>-- Michael Rubin, Commentary<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/10/orwell-hero-terrorism-syria-british-fighters-damned">Orwell was hailed a hero for fighting in Spain. Today he'd be guilty of terrorism</a> -- George Monbiot, The Guardian

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- February 12, 2014

Pakistan Kneels To The Taliban -- Myra MacDonald, War On The Rocks Pakistan has been in a state of perpetual crisis for so long that it can be easy to miss the periodic lurches that bring it closer to state collapse. One such step-change is underway …

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