Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 27, 2017

Robin Wright, New Yorker: Are We Nearing the Endgame with ISIS?

The American diplomat Brett McGurk is the central player in the seventy-two-nation coalition fighting the Islamic State, a disparate array of countries twice the size of nato. He has now worked all of America’s major wars against extremism—in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria—under three very different Presidents: George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and now Donald Trump. McGurk served in Baghdad after the ouster of Saddam Hussein; he used his experience clerking for the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist on the Supreme Court to help draft Iraq’s new constitution. President Bush brought McGurk back to Washington to serve on the National Security Council and help run the campaign against Al Qaeda. President Obama tapped him to work Iraq and Iran at the State Department. McGurk was visiting Kurdistan, in northern Iraq, when isis seized nearby Mosul. In 2015, he became Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter isis. President Trump kept him on.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 27, 2017

When ISIS Is Destroyed, the Islamic State's Ruins May Give Rise To a New Al-Qaeda -- Tom O'Connor, Newsweek

China’s Weaponization of Trade -- Brahma Chellaney, Project Syndicate

When the spied-upon become the spies -- Todd Crowell, Asia Times

Ten lessons from North Korea’s nuclear program -- Richard N. Haass, The Strategist

Analysis: 64 years after the Korean War, the world’s coldest and most dangerous peace -- Michael D. Mosettig, PBS

North Korea's war of words with the world -- Julian Ryall, DW

North Korea must feel full weight of US sanctions, pressure — now -- Anthony Ruggiero, The Hill

With Kagame Set for Another Re-Election, Can Rwanda’s Stability Survive Him? -- Jonathan W. Rosen, WPR

Why Europe is so angry over the big Russia sanctions bill -- Zeeshan Aleem, VOX

Trump emboldens friendly foreign leaders, leaves foes wary -- AP

Is Sectarian Strife Brewing in Azerbaijan? -- Eldar Mamedov, LobeLog

Q&A: A look at why the Taliban seem to be unstoppable -- Kathy Gannon, AP

More Than Cigars and Rum: Why Cuba Matters -- James Stavridis, Foreign Policy

Trump administration is right to sanction Maduro’s henchmen in Venezuela -- Miami Herald editorial

Is Space The Final War-Fighting Frontier? -- Michael Krepon, Arms Control Wonk